Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have communicated to the European Union that they will not target European vessels passing through the Red Sea, even as they expand control over strategic areas near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The letter, sent earlier this month to the EU’s foreign and security policy division, aimed to reassure European nations that the group’s military operations on Yemen’s southern coast do not intend to disrupt international shipping or impede freedom of navigation through this crucial maritime route, according to diplomats familiar with the correspondence.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, is a vital corridor for global shipping and energy supplies. Following a surge in container traffic through the Suez Canal in recent months, vessel movements through the strait reached their highest levels in nearly three years.
The Houthi offensive, which began in July and reignited conflict with Saudi Arabia after years of relative ceasefire, included a blockade of Saudi ports and attacks on oil tankers. On September 10, the same day the letter was sent to the EU, the Houthis captured the Yemeni port of Mocha and subsequently took control of several islands in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb region after repelling Saudi-backed government forces.
In addition to reassurances given to the EU, the Houthis have reportedly communicated to the United States through Oman-mediated talks that they do not intend to target U.S. vessels. President Donald Trump, who had designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization, stated that the group contacted Washington to affirm their desire to avoid conflict with the U.S.
Despite these assurances, the renewed Houthi campaign, which effectively ended a 2022 truce with Saudi Arabia, has heightened concerns among international shipping companies, particularly tanker operators. These developments coincide with ongoing tensions involving Iran, which has been restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as part of its confrontation with the United States. The combination of Houthi actions and Iranian measures has led to a reduction in tankers transporting Saudi oil from the port of Yanbu over the past month.
However, container shipping lines such as Maersk and CMA CGM have increased their routes through the Suez Canal, elevating the volume of container vessels passing through Bab al-Mandeb. Container shipping in the Red Sea has now recovered to nearly 30 percent of pre-2023 levels, signaling a partial rebound amid the challenging security landscape.
As the conflict in Yemen continues, the Houthis’ expanding control along the Red Sea coast presents ongoing risks to maritime security in a region critical to global trade, even as the group seeks to limit its confrontation to Saudi interests rather than broader international shipping.