The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs this Monday condemned the attacks in the Red Sea, for which Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility, and guaranteed coordination between the European bloc and several partners in the fight against security threats.
“The European Union (EU) strongly condemns the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. We are coordinating with our partners to effectively combat these threats to peace and security,” Josep Borrell said in a message published on the social network X (formerly Twitter). .
The head of European diplomacy also stressed that “violations of international navigation and maritime security are unacceptable and must be stopped.”
Yemen’s Islamist Houthi rebels have claimed attacks in the Red Sea on two ships linked to Israel, including the Swan Atlantic, owned by a Norwegian company.
“Yemeni forces carried out a military operation against two ships associated with the Zionist entity using seaplanes,” the Iran-backed rebel group assured in a statement, naming the first ship the Swan Atlantic and the second the MSC Clara.
Earlier in the day, British fuel company BP announced it was suspending all traffic in the Red Sea due to repeated attacks.
Late last week, Denmark’s Maersk, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, France’s CMA CGM and Italian-Swiss company MSC announced their ships would stop using the Red Sea until further notice, at least until this Monday. or until passage is safe.
Following the conflict sparked by the October 7 attacks on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, the Houthis have threatened to attack any ship they believe is sailing to or from Israel.
In recent weeks, Yemen’s rebels have stepped up attacks near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from Africa and through which 40% of global trade passes.
About 10% of all oil traded at sea passes through the strait, and it is estimated that one billion dollars’ worth of goods (€910 billion) pass through the strait each year.