NYN | News
Western media outlets are closely monitoring the unfolding developments in the Red Sea.
The Financial Times reported that recent shifts in the deployment of Western forces in the Red Sea have created an opening for Sanaa-based forces to launch precision attacks, taking advantage of the security vacuum left by the repositioning of U.S. forces and the declining effectiveness of European naval roles, as the paper described.
The newspaper quoted Robert Peters, Director of Ambrey, a maritime risk management firm involved in rescuing targeted vessels, as saying that changes in U.S. military presence provided the Houthis (Ansar Allah) with a perfect opportunity to launch their latest attack. He confirmed that the two vessels targeted this week were not under any naval protection at the time of their transit, which allowed Sanaa’s forces to act with “complete freedom of movement.”
Peters added that “EU naval forces were occupied with other matters,” without specifying what they were. Meanwhile, maritime security sources told the paper that international forces informed stakeholders this week that no additional protection would be provided in the southern Red Sea—a clear indication of Western loss of control over one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
According to a security expert cited by the Financial Times, the maritime restrictions imposed by Yemen on ships linked to Israel have now become an unavoidable reality. He suggested that Sanaa’s maritime surveillance technology is capable of detecting vessels even when they switch off their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).
In this context, UK-based risk management firm Vanguard Tech warned shipping companies against trying to mask or circumvent the restrictions. It advised firms to thoroughly verify whether their vessels have any clear links to Israel—whether through ownership records, port call histories, or shareholder data—stating that simply turning off transmission signals is no longer sufficient to avoid attacks.
Separately, the newspaper quoted the CEO of the company operating the Magic Seas—a vessel recently targeted—saying that his fleet had avoided the Red Sea throughout 2024. However, their latest risk assessment had classified the threat level as “low to moderate.” He added regretfully: “We won’t make that mistake again,” acknowledging that underestimating Yemen’s deterrence has proven to be a costly lesson.
