Yemeni militias have been attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea for a year. So many ships no longer use radio signals, and Moscow is said to have resorted to high-quality satellite imagery.
According to research, Russia supported Houthi militias in Yemen through attacks on ships in the Red Sea with satellite data. The targeting data was sent to the Houthis via members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the US newspaper “Wall Street Journal” reported, citing a person familiar with the matter and two security officials from Europe.
The Houthis, backed by Iran and enemies of Israel, have been firing rockets or drones at merchant ships in the Red Sea since the Gaza war broke out a year ago. According to the WSJ, more than 100 ships have been attacked and two sunk since November 2023. Because of the dangers, ships in the area began turning off their radio signals. Their movements can only be tracked through high-quality satellite imagery. Commercially available satellite services often cannot achieve this.
“Main Artery of World Trade Under Attack”
The report said Russia helped the Houthis “strike a critical artery for global trade” and further destabilize the region. It shows “how far Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to go to undermine the US-led economic and political order.” A spokesman for the Russian government did not immediately comment on the report, and a spokesman for the Houthis declined to comment.
By shelling ships in the Red Sea, the Houthis want to end Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip following an unprecedented massacre by Islamist Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023. Major shipping companies avoid the narrow sea route between Asia and Europe and choose an alternative route around Africa. (APA/dpa)v
