On Jan. 11 at 2:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces, in coordination with the United Kingdom, and support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain conducted joint strikes on Houthi targets in response to continuous attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
As per the governments’ joint statement following the strikes, the precision strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of international mariners in one of the world’s most critical waterways.
As they claim, their demonstrated a shared commitment to freedom of navigation, international commerce, and defending the lives of mariners from illegal and unjustifiable attacks.
The statement also notes that the governments issued a joint statement on January 3, 2024, which called for the immediate end of illegal attacks and warned that malign actors would be held accountable should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and the free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways.
Despite this strong warning, attacks in the Red Sea have continued, including the launch of numerous missiles and one-way attack aerial vehicles against ships in the Red Sea on January 9, 2024, including U.S. and UK vessels.
… the statement notes
To remind, on January 10, 2024, the UN Security Council passed UNSCR 2722, which also condemned these attacks and demanded that they cease.
Let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and ensure the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways
… the statement concludes
Given these developments, Dryad Global strongly recommends that clients refrain from entering or operating in the Red Sea near Yemen and the Gulf of Aden for a minimum of 72 hours. According to Dryad, this precautionary measure is crucial for ensuring the safety of personnel and assets until the situation stabilizes and a clearer assessment is available.
