In a concerning development, the Houthi rebels in Yemen have been sending a series of threatening emails to Greek shipping companies operating vessels in the Red Sea. The messages warn that ships traveling through the region face the risk of attack if they have any connections to Israel.

The email campaign began in May, with the first message arriving in the personal inbox of a senior executive at a Greek shipping firm. The email, written in English, was sent by the Yemen-based Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) - a body established in February to liaise between Houthi forces and commercial shipping.

The message warned that one of the company's vessels had violated a Houthi-imposed transit ban by docking at an Israeli port, and would be "directly targeted by the Yemeni Armed Forces in any area they deem appropriate." The email went on to say the company would face "sanctions" if the ship continued to enter ports affiliated with "the usurping Israeli entity."

Over the following months, more than a dozen similar emails were sent to at least six Greek shipping companies, according to industry sources. The threats have escalated, with later messages warning that "punishments will be imposed on all vessels" of the targeted companies.

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have carried out nearly 100 attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea since November 2023, sinking two vessels, seizing another, and killing at least four seafarers. The group says it is acting in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.

Greek-owned ships account for almost 30% of the Houthi attacks so far, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence data - though it's unclear if those vessels had any ties to Israel.

The European Union's naval force, Aspides, has confirmed the Houthis' tactics are evolving, with the group now targeting entire shipping fleets rather than individual vessels. Aspides has urged companies to switch off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, as these make ships more vulnerable to missile strikes.

Several Greek shipping firms targeted by the email campaign have decided to avoid the Red Sea route altogether, citing crew safety concerns. However, some companies continue to transit the critical waterway due to contractual obligations or the need to move goods efficiently.

The Houthis' aggressive posturing has heightened alarm across the industry, with insurance costs for Western ship owners already rising sharply. The situation underscores the growing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, as the conflict between Iran and Israel spills over into the vital maritime trade routes.
Source link