Deciphering Red Sea Ship Attacks Amid Yemen's Political Turmoil

By IndraStra Global Editorial Team

Cover Image Attribute: The sinking image of  MV Ruby Mar, a British-owned cargo ship / Source: Bloomberg

The Red Sea ship attacks have sparked global concern and shed light on Yemen's intricate web of conflicts. At the heart of these attacks lies a multifaceted narrative that intertwines historical grievances, regional power struggles, and humanitarian crises. Delving deeper into the issue unveils a saga spanning decades, marked by shifting alliances, ideological rifts, and the quest for legitimacy amidst chaos.
The MV Ruby Mar, a British-owned cargo ship, became the latest victim of the escalating tensions in the region when it was struck by a missile on February 18, 2024, and subsequently sank in the Red Sea. The perpetrators, identified as the Houthis, a rebel group controlling significant portions of Yemen, have been implicated in numerous similar attacks on ships since November 2023.
To comprehend the root causes of these attacks, one must navigate through the labyrinth of Yemen's turbulent history. For centuries, Yemen was divided, with the north predominantly governed by religious Zaydis, a Shia Muslim sect. However, the landscape shifted in the 1960s with a military revolution that birthed North Yemen, eventually unified with South Yemen in 1990 under President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Saleh's presidency was marred by tensions with various factions, including the Zaydi movement led by Hussein al-Houthi in the northern province of Saada. Al-Houthi's followers, later known as the Houthis, emerged as formidable adversaries, challenging Saleh's authority and denouncing Saudi Arabia's influence in the region. The seeds of conflict were sown, fuelled by ideological differences and geopolitical ambitions.

The situation escalated in 2011 amidst the Arab Spring protests, leading to Saleh's eventual resignation and the rise of a transitional government backed by Saudi Arabia. However, the Houthis, feeling marginalized in the new political landscape, withdrew from the national dialogue and seized control of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. This power grab marked the onset of a full-blown civil war, drawing regional players like Saudi Arabia into the fray.
The ensuing conflict, characterized by airstrikes, blockades, and widespread suffering, unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe of staggering proportions. Both the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis stand accused of grave human rights violations, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians and the suppression of dissent. Yemen, once hailed as the "Happy Arabia" for its rich cultural heritage, now languishes in despair, grappling with famine, disease, and displacement.
Amidst this backdrop of chaos and devastation, the Red Sea ship attacks serve as a grim reminder of Yemen's descent into lawlessness. While the stated rationale behind these attacks is ostensibly linked to solidarity with Palestinians and opposition to Israeli policies, analysts argue that they also serve as a strategic maneuver by the Houthis to bolster their legitimacy and consolidate power.
By framing their actions within the broader context of regional conflicts, the Houthis seek to garner support from within Yemen and beyond. However, this narrative conveniently obscures the internal strife and governance failures plaguing the country, deflecting attention from their own shortcomings as rulers.
As international condemnation mounts and retaliatory measures intensify, Yemen finds itself trapped in a vicious cycle of violence and instability. Efforts to broker ceasefires and negotiate peace remain elusive, thwarted by entrenched animosities and competing interests. Meanwhile, ordinary Yemenis bear the brunt of this protracted conflict, caught between warring factions and forsaken by the international community.

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