Lloyd’s List | Houthis offer reassurance to ‘compliant’ vessels with Red Sea FAQs

The vessel ETERNITY C docked at the pier. Image: Farid Mernissi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In a recent Lloyd’s List interview, Risk Intelligence Senior Analyst Dirk Siebels commented on the Houthis’ latest Red Sea transit guidance, highlighting their approach to targeting and communications.

Published on 13 August 2025, the article examines the Houthis’ newly released Frequently Asked Questions for vessel transit in the Red Sea and their attempts to clarify targeting criteria for shipping. Dirk Siebels, senior analyst at Risk Intelligence, noted that the Houthis’ communication is consistent with their previous statements and targeting behaviour, stating: “They have always stated relatively specific targeting criteria and they have targeted ships based on their previous statements.” He also emphasised that the Houthis’ claim to provide a “formal advance warning” to vessels allegedly violating sanctions is aimed at portraying their attacks as targeted rather than indiscriminate, thereby presenting themselves as a credible political entity and essentially as a government actor.

For further insights, read the full article on Lloyd’s List.

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