The message warned that one of the company's vessels, currently transiting the Red Sea, was at risk of being attacked by the Iran-backed Houthi militia from Yemen. The vessel had violated a Houthi-imposed transit restriction by docking at an Israeli port, and the email indicated that the ship could be "directly targeted by the Yemeni Armed Forces in any area they deem appropriate."
The email, written in English and reviewed by Reuters, came from the Yemen-based Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), a group established in February to coordinate between Houthi forces and commercial shipping operators.
The message placed responsibility on the shipping company for the vessel's inclusion on a Houthi "ban list" and warned of "sanctions" against the entire fleet if any vessels continued to breach the transit rules and enter Israeli ports. The executive, along with the company, chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns.
This warning was part of a broader series of emails sent to at least six Greek shipping companies since May, according to multiple industry sources.
The email campaign appears to mark an escalation in Houthi efforts to disrupt commercial shipping, extending threats to Greek-operated ships even with no direct ties to Israel. Since last year, the Houthis have launched missiles, drones, and explosive-laden boats targeting vessels connected to Israeli, U.S., and UK interests.
Now aimed at entire fleets, the latest threats have heightened risks for ships navigating the Red Sea.