Yemen Monitor/Sana’a/Special:
International seafarers’ unions have classified the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as “war-like” zones and urged all shipping companies to avoid transiting through the increasingly troubled waters.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), a group formed to negotiate seafarers’ wages and working conditions, late last week. It came after three crew members were killed on board the bulk carrier True Confidence, which was hit by a Houthi missile on March 7.
It added that ships transiting through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are considered to be targets for Houthi missiles, putting the lives of seafarers at serious risk.
Since November, the Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait in retaliation for the brutal Israeli attack on Gaza. They have said they are targeting ships linked to Israel.
In response, the U.S. and Britain have been carrying out a campaign of airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels since January 11. As a result, the Houthis have announced that they are expanding their operations to include US and British ships.
