A cargo ship came under attack on Sunday off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea, according to the British military. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) reported the attack, stating that the ship triggered a distress alert stating they are under attack by unknown armed assailants. As reported by the British navy, the incident occurred 30 nautical miles southwest of al-Hudaydah, which is a major port city under control of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. According to UKMTO, a skiff approached the bulk carrier and opened fire, prompting the ship's own security guards to return fire. The skiff then sailed back to a larger ship about 2 nautical miles away, before authorities began investigating the circumstances of the attack. The cargo ship and crew were reported safe, with the British military confirming their security status. UKMTO has advised vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO as authorities continue their investigation.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the UKMTO report. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in the Red Sea region, where maritime operations face potential threats from various armed groups. The attack occurred in international waters, making it a matter of concern for global maritime security. The Houthi rebels, which control the Red Sea, began launching strikes against shipping in the region in 2023, although they have since paused their attacks, as reported by UKMTO. The US State Department has designated the Houthis as a terrorist organisation, adding to the complexity of the security situation in the region.
Yemen's Houthi rebels have threatened to begin attacking ships again, though they have not been carrying out attacks recently, as reported by the UKMTO. The Houthis began attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea in 2023 in response to Israel's offensive in Gaza, with the Israeli war in Gaza beginning after the October 7 Hamas terror attacks that year. The Houthi attacks disrupted traffic in one of the world's busiest international shipping routes, with companies rerouting their vessels around Africa to avoid the threat. The Houthis vowed to renew their attacks against ships in 2026 after the US and Israel declared war on Iran, which is the group's primary international backer. A Houthi spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the latest attack. The rebels previously fired drones and missiles at ships that pass by territory they control near the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea during their Gaza war operations.
Aside from the Houthis, Somali pirates have been active in the nearby Gulf of Aden recently, indicating broader regional maritime security concerns. This context suggests the attack may be part of a pattern of regional maritime insecurity affecting shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The ongoing security challenges in the region continue to impact global maritime trade and shipping operations. Suspected pirates attacked a vessel 76 nautical miles south of the port town of Balhaf in southeastern Yemen on July 1, according to the UKMTO, with four armed men on a small craft causing minor damage to the ship's bridge. The Houthis previously attacked ships that pass territory they control near the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea during their Gaza war operations.
