The United States has launched a series of intense airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, following repeated attacks by the Iran-backed group on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea. Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors.
The strikes, ordered by President Donald Trump, aim to degrade the Houthis’ ability to disrupt international shipping and restore navigational freedom. The US and its allies have been conducting airstrikes since January 2024. In the latest campaign over the weekend of March 15–16, 2025, the US conducted around 47 air strikes against Houthi targets across Yemen.
The Houthi attacks have had a significant impact on global shipping routes. Since the attacks began in late 2023, major carriers have rerouted vessels to avoid the Red Sea, leading to historically low volumes through the Suez Canal. In November 2024, only 115 container vessels passed through the canal, a 72% decline compared to the same month in 2023. This trend is expected to continue as long as tensions persist.
The rerouting of ships has also led to increased transit times, with delays of up to 14 days on key trade lanes connecting Asia to Europe and the US East Coast. The increased transit times and rerouting have added costs and complexities to global supply chains.
The US government has stated that it will continue the strikes until the threats to Red Sea shipping are eliminated. However, analysts warn that the conflict could escalate further, with the Houthis potentially expanding their targets to include more commercial vessels and Gulf Arab countries’ oil infrastructure. The Houthis have previously targeted oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.