Situation in the Red Sea

SpecializedUnited Nations Security Council

TopicSituation in the Red Sea

A history of conflict, power struggles, and militaristic foreign involvement has long marred the Red Sea. In these current times, the Ansar Allah (also known as Houthis) impose their will by sinking ships, and pirates run rampant off Somalia’s coast. Djibouti hosts coastal military bases for China, Italy, Japan, France, and the United States. Sudan has transformed Port Sudan into a hub for Iran and Russia. Local fishermen risk their lives daily to attempt to make a living. What was once a successful trade route that saw tens of thousands of shipping vessels and contributed over 15% of global trade has degraded into a potential warzone. The dangers of traversing the Red Sea are innumerable, and with the Strait of Hormuz now closed, quelling tensions is necessary to avoid devastating worldwide consequences.

There are several factors to consider; the first being the Houthis, an Iranian-backed rebel group in Yemen. After rising against the internationally recognized government of Yemen (the Presidential Leadership Council or PLC backed by Saudi Arabia) in 2014, they control a little over half of Yemen’s coastal areas, notably the port of Hodeida. They were a heavy combatant during the Red Sea conflict in 2023, inflicting heavy missile and drone strikes in and around the area. Since then, they have continued using heavy militaristic force, attacking ports, Saudi Arabian ships, and PLC-held territories in Yemen. On August 20th, a minister to the PLC government warned that the Houthis planned to seize the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which is a major chokepoint to the southern Red Sea. Another factor is the rise in piracy off Somalia’s coast. Somali pirates have hijacked 17 vessels from January to May; nations’ navies have been diverted from combating piracy to protecting themselves from Houthi attacks, and many vessels have had their routes changed to the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, which means more valuable ships to pilfer. Another factor is the heavy foreign involvement in the Red Sea. As stated previously, the Houthis are backed by Iran, both economically and militarily. The PLC is backed by Saudi Arabia, which has close ties to the United States in the Red Sea. The Suez Canal is another important area in this struggle, as it connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. With peak amounts of marine traffic in 2023 with 26,000 vessels crossing, the canal has since seen an average of 13,000 ships pass through from 2024 onward. As such, it is an incredibly important canal to both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Although it hasn’t been targeted yet, if it were forced to close, it would displace many shipping vessels and cause greater worldwide economic strain.

It is also important to keep in mind those who are most affected by the constant warfare. Fishing is an incredibly important part of civilians’ livelihoods in the region. In 2023, over 85,000 people were directly engaged in the fishery business, not including the families these jobs supported. Since then, local fishing is down by 70%. Now, in 2026, missiles and drones often hit the local fishermen who still have access to the water. As a result, around 59,000 jobs have been lost, as well as several lives.

A large part of the United Nations Security Council’s actions have been aimed at the Houthis. They have repeatedly condemned their actions and imposed sanctions. As the situation rapidly deteriorates, this Council’s goal will be to ease tensions between global parties, find a way to stop the constant fighting on the Red Sea, quell the resurgence of piracy, and help the people who truly need it take the first steps toward regaining their livelihood.

Focus Questions:

1. With all of the moving parts in this conflict, what should the UNSC tackle first? Why?
2. If possible, would limiting foreign involvement help or hurt the situation in the Red Sea? If so, what actions can be taken by the UNSC to do this?
3. What measures can be taken by the UNSC to ensure the people of these countries can safely start fishing and return to their lives?

Useful Links:

UNSC Resolution on Red Sea/Houthis
https://docs.un.org/en/S/RES/2826(2026)

Conflict History for Yemen and Houthis
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/war-yemen#chapter-background

Fishermen injured in Houthi Strike
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/3-fishermen-injured-others-missing-in-houthi-missile-strike-off-western-yemen/4039100

Why Fishing is so important to the situation in the Red Sea
https://www.fao.org/neareast/news/details/fao-and-gef-launch-redseafish-project-to-promote-sustainable-fisheries-management/en

Somali Piracy
https://centerformaritimestrategy.org/publications/why-somali-piracy-has-returned-and-may-be-here-to-stay/

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