Heightened Threat Level in Red Sea Prompts Concern

The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) and Coalition Task Force Sentinel (CTF Sentinel) have released a joint letter expressing their ongoing concern regarding an increased threat level to shipping in the Red Sea near Yemen.

The letter comes amid the Houthi group’s recent threats to commercial shipping in the region, which have intensified amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Iran-aligned group controls northern Yemen and its Red Sea coasts.

Headquartered in Bahrain, the IMSC was established in September 2019 to deter threats and reassure mariners in and around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb—two critical chokepoints maritime trade—amid a significant increase in hostile activity against commercial shipping. Its operational task force, CTF Sentinel, was established a few months later to patrol maritime activity in the region.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia assumed command of the multinational task force in August. There are currently 12 member nations in the IMSC: Albania, Bahrain, Estonia, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.

Annually, approximately 17,000 merchant ships transit through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait into the Red Sea, highlighting the significance of the region for international trade.

Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on Israel has further heightened tensions. On at least two occasions, the U.S. Navy has intercepted missiles and/or drones launched from Yemen into the Red Sea. This week, Yemen’s Houthi leader warned that they could target Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

In their joint letter, the IMSC provides crucial recommendations for navigating the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb. These include prioritizing alternative routes to avoid Yemeni waters, opting for nighttime transit to reduce the risk of visual identification by potential threats, communicating movements in advance, utilizing designated hotlines for position reporting and emergency calls, and maintaining a maneuverable course in the face of any perceived threat.

These collective efforts by the IMSC and CTF Sentinel serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges posed to shipping interests by heightened tensions in the region.