India-bound cargo ship hijacked by Houthi rebels in Red Sea
Saudi-led coalition (an alliance of nine countries from West Asia and North Africa, led by Saudi Arabia ) termed this as an act of armed group of “piracy”
The ship called Galaxy Leader is British-owned and Japanese-operated and was heading from Turkey towards Pipavav in Gujarat. India-bound cargo ship hijacked by Houthi rebels in Red Sea.
The hijacking occurred approx. 150 km off the coast of Yemen’s port city of Hodeida, near the coast of Eritrea.
Red Sea is, a narrow strip of water extending southeastward from the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects with the Gulf of Aden and then with the Arabian Sea.
Importance of Read Sea trade Route:
It is a crucial route for international trade and energy shipments, around 93-100%, of Arab countries’ total exports pass through it.
Approx. 10% of seaborne cargo sails through the Red Sea including most of the Asian trade with Europe.
Both the US and China have Naval bases in Djibouti which points towards the geostrategic importance of this region.
Challenges of Piracy
- Piracy can deter trade along key global shipping chokepoints and disrupt critical supply chains.
- Strong nexus with local mafia groups, illegal trafficking, or even terrorism.
- Higher costs arise as ships divert around piracy areas, requiring extra fuel, and increased shipping
insurance premiums, etc. - Poses a significant risk to sailors, the shipping industry, and the coastal states that border the piracy-prone zone.
About Houthi rebels
- Houthis are a rebel group locked in a civil war with the Yemeni government for almost a decade.
- They are named after the Houthi tribe.
- They have been in power in northern Yemen, including the official capital Sanaa,
- Houthis, reported to be backed by Iran, also support Hamas and Hezbollah, involved in crossborder conflicts with Israel