This transitional phase in which maritime security in the region underwent significant changes, was closely linked to the Gaza war, which erupted in October 2023. The conflict created broad, multifaceted fronts and triggered renewed security shifts across the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the wider Middle East. One month later, Ansar Allah (the Houthis) began targeting Israeli-linked vessels transiting the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with the aim of creating pressure that could contribute to achieving a ceasefire in Gaza. It was in this context that, in November 2023, a shift in maritime attacks and the resurgence of piracy capabilities in the Horn of Africa became evident.
This situation was further compounded when the war against Iran began, shaking the stability of the Strait of Hormuz. This widened the security vacuum that was exploited by piracy groups and non-state actors operating in the region, including the Houthis in Yemen, al-Shabaab, ISIS, and others. The increased pressure on the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb revived the need for alternative maritime routes through the Indian Ocean and around the Cape of Good Hope, while also increasing the possibility of renewed security risks emerging in the western Indian Ocean.
