In a recent military operation, Iran-backed Houthi militants launched drone attacks against several American warships, forcing ships to steer clear of the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal, a vital waterway facilitating 10 to 15% of world trade and 30% of global container trade, is now being avoided due to safety concerns. Ships opting to reroute around southern Africa face an additional 4,000 miles and up to two weeks longer transit time, incurring costs of up to $1 million per vessel in extra fuel expenses.

The U.S. reclassified the Houthis as a terrorist group following their assault in the Red Sea, where they have targeted approximately 45 ships in recent months. It has been reported that between 2015 and 2023, the U.S. intercepted 18 ships smuggling Iranian weapons to the Houthis, who have received support from Iran for about a decade.

Despite their unconventional tactics, including firing missiles from pickup trucks to evade detection, U.S. and allied forces have successfully neutralized 73 missiles pre-launch, along with 17 drones, 13 boats carrying explosives, and one underwater attack drone, as per statements tracked by the Associated Press. The elusive nature of the Houthis’ operations, lacking centralized weapons depots, poses challenges for military tracking efforts, due to their mobile nature as depicted in a recent report from the Defense Intelligence Agency.