MENA: Rising maritime threats after ceasefire fails
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | May 2025
The maritime security landscape in the Middle East has entered a new phase of volatility, with amplified risks for commercial vessels operating in arterial shipping lanes.
According to Ambrey Analytics, a global maritime risk management firm, the resumption of hostilities in Gaza, increased Houthi activity in the Red Sea and escalating tensions involving Iran are altering the threat environment for global trade.
The Houthis have reinstated restrictions on Israeli-owned and -flagged vessels, but recent statements indicate an expanding scope of targets.
According to a recent Ambrey Analytics threat circular, sustained military operations in the region could result in increased threats to merchant shipping, particularly vessels linked—directly or indirectly—to nations involved in ongoing strikes. The risk of collateral damage from regional conflict is now an important consideration for shipping operators navigating the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Meanwhile, broader regional tensions are fuelling additional risks. M