CNN: Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea Revived Piracy After a Decade of Dormancy

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An investigative report by the American network CNN, published today, Saturday, stated that Somali pirates have resurfaced after nearly a decade of dormancy

This resurgence follows the Yemeni Houthis’ campaign targeting maritime shipping in the Red Sea under the pretext of supporting Hamas in its war with Israel

The network quoted local sources as saying that the Red Sea crisis has drawn the attention of naval resources dedicated to counter-piracy operations in the region, creating a distraction that allowed the pirates to resume their activities

A report published in November by Lloyd’s List, a maritime industry journal, citing information from Seahawk Maritime Intelligence, warned that expanding ties between Somali pirates, the Houthis, and other regional actors could severely disrupt maritime trade along vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean

In December 2023, a month after Iran-backed Houthi rebels began targeting commercial vessels, Somali pirates hijacked MV Ruen, a Maltese-flagged cargo ship in the Indian Ocean

This was the first successful hijacking of a commercial vessel since 2017

Between January 1 and September 30, 2024, three vessels were hijacked, two were boarded and fired upon, and three reported attempted attacks in the waters off Somalia, according to the International Maritime Bureau

Compared to previous phases of Somali piracy, the current threat is moderate, with piracy attacks assessed as a realistic possibility, according to a December 2024 report from the EU Naval Force Maritime Security Centre

At its peak in 2011, piracy incidents off the Somali coast hit a record high of 237, costing the global economy $7 billion that year, according to one report

During that period, more than 3,863 seafarers were fired upon with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades

Nevertheless, the recent surge in piracy attacks has added another layer of complexity to global maritime commerce, which is already struggling with the strategic shocks of the Red Sea crisis

We are likely at a critical point where any further disruption will be very tangible for consumers worldwide

That is the primary concern, said Ian Ralby, a senior fellow at the U

-based Center for Maritime Strategy think tank

According to JP Morgan Research in February 2024, the crisis has led to a near fivefold increase in shipping costs from Asia to Europe, affecting the prices of imported goods—from clothing and electronics to gas and food grains

To avoid Houthi attacks, commercial vessels have rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope, incurring additional costs estimated at $1 million per ship due to increased fuel, insurance, and operational expenses

A report by the International Monetary Fund in March 2024 stated that Houthi attacks led to a 50% decline in trade through the Suez Canal during the first two months of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year

The longer route also resulted in an average 10-day delay in shipment deliveries, negatively impacting businesses with limited inventories

In late 2023, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea dismantled the balance that had been achieved through counter-piracy measures over the past decade, making piracy a lucrative option once again

Between November 2023 and October 2024, the Houthis launched nearly 190 strikes

These deadly attacks, utilizing advanced weaponry, prompted global powers to relocate their intelligence assets and warships from the Indian Ocean region to the Red Sea, according to Troels Burchall Henningsen, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defence College

Analysts believe this shift has made commercial vessels rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope more vulnerable to piracy in the western Indian Ocean

According to CNN, there are growing concerns today regarding the increasing capabilities of Somali pirates, based on their alleged alliance with regional actors such as the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab militant group and the Houthi rebels

Terrorist financing expert Gulel Ahmed stated that the link between pirates and Al-Shabaab was already known, but the alleged partnership with the Houthis has made them more lethal than before

Ahmed added that the Houthis rely on pirates for smuggling oil and weapons, while also sharing intelligence on ships heading towards the Red Sea via the Gulf of Aden

The UN Panel of Experts on Yemen documented an increase in arms smuggling involving Somalia’s Al-Shabaab and Yemen’s Houthis in its October 2024 report

According to a Lloyd’s List report citing Seahawk Maritime Intelligence, This strategic alliance allows the Houthis to exert control over shipping routes while financing their operations through illicit piracy proceeds and arms smuggling

The Houthis have pledged to halt attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and on Israel as long as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in place

However, they warned that any aggression from the U

, the U

, or Israel could lead to escalations

On January 22, the Houthis released the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship that had been hijacked over a year ago