In a recent incident off the coast of Yemen, Houthi fighters hijacked a civilian cargo ship, raising concerns of a potential escalation in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The 189-meter-long Galaxy Leader car carrier, en route from Turkey to India, was intercepted by armed personnel who boarded the vessel from small fast boats and helicopters. While no shots were fired, the seizure of the ship, which is owned by one of Israel’s richest men according to shipping databases, could draw the United States and Iran into direct involvement in the war.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Sare’e confirmed that the ship was targeted for being Israeli-owned, signaling the group’s intention to target any Israeli vessel in the Red Sea. However, Israel has denied any connection to the seized ship. The Red Sea, particularly the Bab al-Mandeb passage, is a crucial chokepoint for international shipping, with over 17,000 ships passing through it annually. The Galaxy Leader, registered in the Bahamas and operated by Japan’s NYK Line, is just one of many ships vulnerable to further Houthi hijackings.
To prevent future incidents, there are limited options available. One possibility is to send armed naval patrols to accompany commercial traffic, but it remains unclear who could provide such patrols in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia and Egypt possess strong and sophisticated navies, but they are hesitant to engage with the Houthis due to various factors. Israel, too, lacks the capacity to spare any ships for this task. Consequently, the United States navy appears to be the most viable force to address the Houthi threat.
The US has already deployed significant assets to the Middle East, including two carrier strike groups (CSGs) centered around the USS Gerald R Ford and the USS Dwight D Eisenhower. While the CSG 12 monitors the wider area of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, the CSG 2 focuses on Iran. Additionally, individual US navy ships are monitoring Houthi missile launches. However, American options are limited due to the specific tasks assigned to these assets.
Another option would be for the US to directly target the Houthis, but this carries the risk of a major escalation. Alternatively, Washington could seek assistance from Israel to target Houthi ports with long-range missiles, although this approach is also risky. The third and perhaps most realistic option is de-escalation through quiet diplomacy involving Iran. If the seizure of the Galaxy Leader was not instigated by Tehran, the US could engage in diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to rein in its proxy and prevent further hijackings at sea. However, this approach relies on all parties involved showing restraint.
The stakes are high, and another hijacking could spiral out of control, dragging more countries into the conflict and pushing it to a point of no return. It is crucial for international actors to carefully navigate this situation to prevent further escalation and find a peaceful resolution.
