Red Sea & Houthi Attacks Tracker
Red Sea Shipping Crisis
Since November 2023, Houthi forces in Yemen have attacked commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) said in its advisory effective September 23, 2026 that the Houthis "have resumed attacking commercial ships" and that they "declared a blockade on Saudi-affiliated shipping transiting the Bab el Mandeb on July 20, 2026." Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM have each said some Europe-Asia services now use the Suez Canal while other voyages stay on the Cape of Good Hope route.
Current Status: ELEVATED
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), in Update 104 with information to October 11, 2026, rated the regional threat level severe. It rated the Bab el-Mandeb and southern Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, substantial and the northern Red Sea and Suez Canal moderate, and said "Suez Canal operations remain normal."
- Last attack: October 13, 2026, according to Saudi Civil Defense
- Ships diverted: Some shipping returning to Red Sea routes; major container lines remain cautious
The U.S. State Department lists the Houthi movement as Ansarallah. MARAD counted "more than 100 separate Houthi attacks on commercial vessels affecting more than 60 nations" from November 2023 to October 2025.
Latest Developments
- : Saudi-Led Coalition Reports Second Riyadh Ballistic Intercept and Destruction of Two Launchers in Sanaa. MIDDLE EAST - Major General Turki Al-Malki, official spokesperson for the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, stated on October 26 in releases carried by the Saudi Press Agency that coalition air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia toward Riyadh.
- : Saudi-Led Coalition Reports Intercept of Houthi Ballistic Missile Directed at Riyadh. RIYADH - Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, stated on October 25 that air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia toward Riyadh.
- : Saudi-Led Coalition Intercepts Drones and Missiles Over Saudi Arabia and Red Sea. MIDDLE EAST - On October 16 the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen intercepted and destroyed three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV drones) in the Southern and Riyadh regions, two cruise missiles over the Red Sea, and a ballistic missile launched toward Yanbu, Major General Turki Al-Mal
- : Houthis Strike Aden Palace as Saudi Airport Suspensions Continue After Attacks. MIDDLE EAST - On October 15, Houthi forces fired missiles at the al-Maashiq presidential palace in Aden, Yemen, the seat of the internationally recognized government, killing two security personnel, Yemeni officials said.
- : GACA Extends Suspension of Operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on October 12 that the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been extended to allow completion of procedures verifying the safety and operational readiness of the airport’s facilities, i
Current Red Sea Security Status
MARAD's September 2026 advisory said "recent incidents are fewer in number."
BIMCO, citing Clarksons Research on Suez Canal container ship capacity in the first two weeks of October 2026, said "this is the first time that transits have exceeded 50% of pre-disruption levels."
Latest Attacks Timeline
| Date | Target | Weapon | Outcome | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 13, 2026 | Riyadh | Two cruise missiles | Both intercepted, and falling debris injured four people, according to Saudi Civil Defense | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| October 10, 2026 | Passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport | Missile | Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said 12 people were killed and 309 injured, and Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Malki, spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, attributed the attack to the Houthis | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| August 24, 2026 | Tankers AMZAN and DAISY | Missiles | Both reported struck, according to MARAD | Off the coast of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia |
| July 2025 | Liberian-flagged, Greek-managed bulk carriers Magic Seas and Eternity C, in separate incidents | Not specified | Both sunk, according to MARAD and the UN Panel of Experts on Yemen | Red Sea, near Hodeidah, Yemen |
Attack Statistics
- Attacks on commercial vessels, Nov 2023 to Oct 2025 (MARAD): 100+
- Vessels sunk as of July 31, 2025 (UN Panel of Experts): 4
- Targets struck in Operation Rough Rider, Mar 15 to Apr 27, 2025 (CENTCOM): 800+
- Personnel killed (Houthi-claimed): Unknown (not independently verified)
Red Sea Shipping Lanes
Key routes include the Suez Canal, Red Sea transit lanes, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting to the Gulf of Aden. Houthi attacks are part of the broader Yemen war.
Who Are the Houthis?
MARAD said the Houthis declared the July 20, 2026 blockade "following cross-border strikes near Sanaa and into Saudi Arabia." The JMIC attributed its rating for the southern Red Sea to "Houthi attacks on vessels and maritime infrastructure in the Southern Red Sea and territorial gains in Yemen along the Red Sea," and said in its October 11, 2026 update that "Houthi forces remain in control of Mocha, and much of the territory seized in September."
CENTCOM said on April 27, 2025 that since March 15 its forces had "conducted an intense and sustained campaign targeting the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen" under Operation Rough Rider. In a 2026 posture statement published by CENTCOM, Adm. Brad Cooper said "the ceasefire continues to hold following Operation ROUGH RIDER."
Houthi Capabilities
- Anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM). The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) said in February 2024 that Houthi forces "have employed various Iranian-origin missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles."
- Anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM)
- One-way attack drones (uncrewed aerial vehicles)
- Uncrewed surface vessels (USV)
- Small craft, including "fishing skiffs and purpose-built attack boats" (UN Panel of Experts on Yemen)
U.S. & Coalition Response
- Operation Prosperity Guardian, which the U.S. Navy calls "the presence and information-sharing mission to counter unlawful Houthi attacks on maritime shipping in the Red Sea region," with more than 20 participating nations (February 2025)
- Harry S. Truman and Carl Vinson carrier strike groups in Operation Rough Rider (CENTCOM, April 27, 2025)
- U.S. strikes on Houthi storage facilities for "anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems, and uncrewed surface vessels" (CENTCOM, April 27, 2025)
- U.S. designation of Ansarallah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, effective February 16, 2024, and as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on March 5, 2025 (State Department)
Economic Impact
- Average weekly container ship capacity through the Suez Canal, first two weeks of October 2026: 753,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), against 1,457,000 TEU in the same weeks of 2023 (Clarksons Research, cited by BIMCO)
- Asia-Europe container rate in January 2024: over $3,000 per 40-foot container, "a threefold increase over the lowest rate in 2023" (World Bank)
- Additional voyage time via Cape of Good Hope: seven to 10 days between Europe and Asia (World Bank, January 2024)
- Added fuel cost via the Cape: up to $1 million per round trip (World Bank, January 2024)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea?
The Yemen Press Agency reported that Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, in an address on October 7, 2026, "reaffirmed ... Yemen's unwavering support for the Palestinian people, emphasizing readiness to respond with full capacity to any upcoming escalation." On July 24, 2025, according to the UN Panel of Experts on Yemen, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi announced that the Houthis had begun their campaign "in support of Gaza in November 2023."
Is it safe to transit the Red Sea?
Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM have each said some Europe-Asia services now use the Suez Canal while others stay on the Cape of Good Hope route. Hapag-Lloyd said the Red Sea plays "only a limited role" in its network, "with the vast majority of services continuing to route around the Cape of Good Hope," and that each Red Sea transit takes place "with naval protection." MSC said eastbound cargo "will continue operating via the Cape of Good Hope." MARAD advises U.S.-flagged vessels to "exercise caution" and says the route "remains at the discretion of individual companies and vessel Masters."
Have Houthi attacks stopped?
No. The Yemen Press Agency reported that Abdul-Malik al-Houthi's October 7, 2026 address cited "military operations carried out by Yemeni forces up until the cease-fire announcement", but MARAD said two tankers "were reportedly struck by Houthi missiles" on August 24, 2026. The JMIC said on October 11, 2026 that further attacks were a strong possibility.
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