British Concern Over a New Phase of Fear in the Red Sea

NYN | Reports and Analyses 

Warnings within the global shipping industry have intensified amid fears that international navigation is entering a “new phase of maritime terror,” following the Houthis’ (Ansar Allah) announcement that they are expanding their targeting scope to include any vessel affiliated with companies linked to Israel—even if their destination is not an Israeli port.

The British maritime-focused magazine Lloyd’s List published a report on Tuesday affirming that these threats signal a collapse in confidence in one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors. The magazine described the development as a “qualitative escalation” that is deeply alarming to the shipping sector.

The report quoted Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group, who stated that the Houthis have already begun implementing their threats. He cited the attack on the oil tanker M/T Magic Seas as clear evidence of their seriousness.

In the same context, Dirk Siebels, an analyst at Risk Intelligence, emphasized that these threats should not be taken lightly. He warned that ships which ignore them could meet the same fate as Magic Seas and MT Infinity Sea, both of which came under direct attack and were sunk after violating the maritime blockade.

According to the magazine, this development reflects a significant shift in the Houthis’ (Ansar Allah’s) maritime strategy, highlighting the international community’s clear failure to contain the crisis. It poses a threat of partial or total paralysis of shipping routes in the Red Sea and opens the door to global economic and geopolitical consequences.