The Red Sea Crisis
The Houthis of Yemen, who are supported by Iran, have been assaulting commercial container ships in the Red Sea since November 2023 as a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people. To maintain security in this area, the US announced the creation of a new naval task force. Since then, the US has destroyed three of the Houthi rebels’ boats, destroyed ten militants, and shot down drones and missiles that they had launched. These days, worries are mounting over the prospect of a wider battle that would involve Iran and the US in addition to Israel and Palestine. The Israel-Hamas war began on October 7th, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, firing 5,000 rockets into southern and central Israel. As of January 2024, at least 22,000 people had died in the conflict. Since November 2023, Yemen’s Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have started assaulting commercial container ships in the Red Sea as a show of support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas. As part of their journey from Europe to Asia, ships passing via the Suez Canal also traverse the Red Sea. Major maritime corporations are now selecting more expensive and drawn-out routes around Africa rather than the Suez Canal route as a result of the current circumstances. In January 2024, an Iranian vessel invaded the Red Sea following the US destruction of the Houthi watercraft. The cost of food and oil will rise if this fight drags on for a long time.
Where is it located?
The vast expanse of ocean that separates the Arabian Peninsula from Africa is known as the Red Sea. Because of the presence of minerals like iron in the water, the sea has a characteristic reddish color that has earned it the nickname “Red Sea.” Countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti border it. Ships entering the Suez Canal enter across the Red Sea. The Suez Canal is an essential component of world trade because it provides ships with a quicker and more economical route between Europe and Asia.
Conclusion
The US formed a new naval task force to combat the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are receiving support from Iran, and who are assaulting commercial tankers in the Red Sea. Due to the confrontation, an Iranian cruiser made its way into the Red Sea. Fears of the conflict spreading beyond Israel and Palestine originated from this.
Citation-
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/30/china/red-sea-china-response-analysis-intl-hnk/index.html