Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthis are threatening merchant ships hundreds of miles out in the Indian Ocean after striking a container vessel well beyond the Red Sea last week, maritime officials and experts have warned.
The drone attack on the MSC Orion on the night of April 26 followed a threat by the Houthis in March to extend their attacks to the Indian Ocean, including on commercial vessels sailing between Asia and Europe around the Cape of Good Hope.
Many shipping companies have switched to that longer route to avoid Houthi attacks on the approaches to the Suez Canal in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Here are the top political news stories for today.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
How do you believe the international community should respond to groups that use violence to disrupt global trade routes?
@9M2DK362yrs2Y
I think that they should be disciplined because this doesn't just affect the specific country, this affects the whole world.
@9M2C6GJ2yrs2Y
I think that they should be disciplined because this doesn't just affect the specific country, this affects the whole world.
@9M2DWZL2yrs2Y
I think global trade should be uninterrupted and the ships should have access to weapons of their own. I also think we should intercept the drones and pirates as well.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
What do you think is more important: protecting the freedom of the seas for commerce or respecting the reasons that groups like the Houthi have for their actions?
@9M2C4WN2yrs2Y
Protecting the freedom of the seas for commerce due to they invaded something that is free without permission.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
How would you feel if global commerce that you rely on was threatened by groups like the Houthi rebels?
@9M2CVN4 2yrs2Y
campaign of solidarity with Palestinians and against Israel's continuing war on Gaza.
@Gr4ssrootsIkeRepublican2yrs2Y
And we have not heard a single word from either the White House or the Pentagon on what the strategy is to stop this, let alone win this, war. Why isn’t the mainstream media asking this critical question? Are they waiting for US sailors to get killed before they’re interested?
@RaisinsDukeVeteran2yrs2Y
A Major deal, Iran is escalating through its Houthi proxies deep into the Indian Ocean. OR
Houthis did this on their own.
I suspect the former, but do not rule out the latter.
When is Beijing going to cry uncle and pressure Iran?
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