• Source:JND
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Amid Iran-backed Houthis’ fervid attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said diverting ships from their prescribed routes has a cost to bear and India will face huge economic and energy losses if the attacks do not stop. Houthis have been aggressively targeting commercial ships, which are either owned by Israel or were heading towards the latter’s port, with missiles and drones in the Red Sea. This route is key for commercial operations as it connects the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean by the Suez Canal. 

Speaking to the media organisation News 18, S Jaishankar expressed concern over the attacks asserting that the issue should be “speedily addressed”. He said cargo ships were being diverted owing to the attacks by Houtis which ‘has its cost’. 

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Several commercial ship services operating through this route announced they were diverting around the Cape of Good Hope to reach Europe as Houthis are vehemently carrying out attacks in the Red Sea. The latest one was the Greek-owned bulk carrier Zograflia from Vietnam to Israel, which was struck by Houthis on January 17. 

Earlier on Tuesday, the US military said it launched a new strike against the Houthis, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third assault on the Iran-backed group in recent days. According to a US Central Command statement, the strike destroyed four Houthi ballistic missiles that were prepared to launch and presented an imminent threat to merchant and US Navy ships in the region.

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Houthis have been orchestrating the unrest in a display of support for Palestine, which is entangled in an unprecedented war with Israel. The war broke out on October 7 when Hamas, in a surprise attack, showered as many as 5,000 missiles in Israeli territory. Responding to the misadventure, Israel launched a massive counteroffensive in Gaza. A major chunk of the Palestinian enclave has been turned into rubble. As per the Palestinian health minister, over 23,000 people have so far been killed in Gaza.