Gunfire in Red Sea Signals End of a Week of Relative Calm

The Houthis continue to pose a significant threat to merchant vessels in the Middle East. After a brief period of eight days without any incidents, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a new incident in the southern Red Sea. 

The incident involved a vessel's captain being contacted via radio by individuals claiming to be from the Yemeni Navy, who demanded the activation of the Automatic Identification System (AIS)—a tactic commonly associated with Houthi forces. Additionally, a crew member reported hearing what they suspected were gunshots.

The Houthis' ongoing efforts to target merchant ships in the region have significantly disrupted maritime traffic, resulting in a more than two-thirds decrease in shipping activity in the Red Sea over the last five months. As a consequence, the presence of armed guards on vessels traveling to the area has become increasingly necessary.

This surge in demand for maritime security has led to a dramatic increase in the cost of hiring private security guards for ships, reminiscent of the surge in piracy off the coast of Somalia more than ten years ago.

The resurgence of piracy, particularly by Somali pirates who have resumed hijacking ships and kidnapping crews for ransom, has further exacerbated the need for enhanced security measures. This was highlighted by the arrest of nine Somali pirates by the Indian Navy on March 29, following their capture of an Iranian dhow.