The Yemen-based Houthi militia group has increased its attacks on commercial vessels passing through the Red Sea and its adjoining areas, but what surprises many is that Tehran has not acted tough against the militia group despite appeals from the US and several countries to restrain the outfit.

After Houthis-led attacks on international commercial ships passing through the Red Sea increased in days after Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza, the Arabian Sea which lies in the backyard of India has also witnessed a similar kind of attacks on commercial vessels. All this is happening in the Indian Ocean, a key strategic and economic theatre of the world and where India is considered as the net security provider. On January 5, the alert Indian Navy foiled an attempt to hijack a Liberia-flagged vessel in the Arabian Sea and saved all 21 crew members, including 15 Indians who were on board the ship.

But the incident has served as a stark reminder to threats posed to merchant vessels moving around Indian shores. In the last 35 days, it was the fourth attack on ships in the Arabian Sea, this is what data from the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre reveals. India has deployed frigates and destroyers in the central and northern Arabian Sea to assist merchant vessels passing through the region. Aerial surveillance by long-range maritime patrol aircraft and Remotely Piloted Aircraft has been enhanced to keep a track on Houthi militias’ movement in the region.

“We have Indian Navy ships patrolling the area. They are also keeping a watch on Indian ships there,” Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said. Yet attacks on merchant ships crossing through the Arabian Sea have taken place.

However, a few experts see the sudden revival in ship hijacking and attacks from the prism of pirates’ willingness to take advantage of weak maritime security situation in the Gulf of Aden following shifting of international maritime safety focus to the Red Sea to tackle Houthis attacks. But others see attacks on commercial vessels along India’s shores in recent days from a geopolitical angle and link the development to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s condemnation of Hamas for its barbarous terrorist attack on Israel on October7 which resulted in the death of around 1200 people, most of them civilians.

But the incident has served as a stark reminder to threats posed to merchant vessels moving around Indian shores. In the last 35 days, it was the fourth attack on ships in the Arabian Sea, this is what data from the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre reveals. India has deployed frigates and destroyers in the central and northern Arabian Sea to assist merchant vessels passing through the region

Expressing his deep sense of anguish over the Hamas-led attack on Israel, Prime Minister Modi had written on X, “Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.” This has created an impression among Arab countries and supporters of Hamas that India is fully taking Israel’s side even as New Delhi supports the two-state solution and in the past few years has voted against Israel in several UN resolutions and authorised humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees.

On its own, India has provided 70 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including 16.5 tonnes of medicine and medical supplies to the people of Palestine. But then, it is also true that India has barred protests that support Palestinians. This is somehow seen differently by some Muslim countries. Houthis of Yemen who support Palestinian cause, have vowed to keep targeting ships in the Red Sea and elsewhere in support of Hamas. As such. an increase in attack on ships crossing along Indian shores is seen in this light.

In spite of this, India has steadfastly refused to join the US-led Naval operation to protect ships in the Red Sea. “So far, we are not part of any multilateral initiative or project in the area,” the MEA spokesperson said. But eleven countries, including the UK, Canada, France, Norway, Spain, Japan, and Bahrain are part of the US-led Naval operation. On December 31, US Navy responding to a distress call from a Singapore-flagged container ship which was being attacked by Houthi boats, sank three of the four Houthi boats and killed as many as 10 fighters.

There is a fear that so long as the Middle East continues to be seared by Israel’s war against Hamas and its backers, Houthis-led attack on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which accounts for 12% of the total global trade annually, will possibly continue

In the first week of January 2024, the coalition naval forces issued warning to Houthis against further attacks in the Red Sea, the world’s important transit route that connects the East with the West. But Houthis ignored the US’s warning and on January 4, a Houthi drone boat packed with explosives detonated in the Red Sea but failed to cause any damage or casualties. This indicated clearly that the Yemen-based rebel group will continue to attack commercial ships irrespective of US’s warning.  There is a fear that so long as the Middle East continues to be seared by Israel’s war against Hamas and its backers, Houthis-led attack on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which accounts for 12% of the total global trade annually, will possibly continue.

It is largely felt that Houthis are engaged in hijacking or attacking merchant vessels with an aim to fund Hamas’ war against Israel. Houthis, which has been declared a terrorist outfit by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, initially claimed that it would attack only those vessels which are destined for Israel or have any link with the country. But facts on the ground suggest that in more than 20 attacks that the Yemen-based rebel group launched on merchant ships since November 19, 2023, many of them had no clear link with Israeli interests or Israel, yet they were targeted. This has given birth to suspicion that Houthis do so for the sake of money, which is ultimately routed to Hamas.

It is felt that if Iran wishes, it can restrain Houthis from targeting shipping vessels in the Red Sea. For years, Iran has been accused of providing funds and weapons to Houthis, which is part of the Tehran-backed Axis of Resistance, which includes Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and several militant outfits in Iraq and Syria

It is felt that if Iran wishes, it can restrain Houthis from targeting shipping vessels in the Red Sea. For years, Iran has been accused of providing funds and weapons to Houthis, which is part of the Tehran-backed Axis of Resistance, which includes Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and several militant outfits in Iraq and Syria. Since Israel began its attack on Hamas in Gaza, this network has targeted Israeli and American interests in the region, in order to mount pressure on Washington DC to push Israel to accept a ceasefire.

Till Israel’s war on Hamas will be on, Iran will not restrict Houthis from its militia-style campaign. Rather it deployed a warship to the Red Sea in an apparent show of support for the Yemen-based militia group, just a day after the US Navy killed 10 Houthi militants and sank their boats in the Red Sea. This has created a complex situation in the region and as such, diplomacy is considered as the only channel to resolve the problem faced by the international freighters.

However, for the moment, fearing the consequences of shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, many of the world’s top shipping companies have diverted their freighters away from the sea channel. Instead, ships are being detoured around South Africa, lengthening a merchant ship’s journey by several weeks, thereby, increasing fuel and labour costs.

–The writer is a senior journalist with wide experience in covering international affairs. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda