British maritime security firm Ambrey reported on Saturday that a vessel was attacked approximately 61 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah in Yemen. Concurrently, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a similar report, indicating an incident in the same vicinity where a ship's captain reported two missiles near the vessel, neither causing damage. It remains uncertain whether Ambrey and UKMTO were referring to the same event, as they did not specify any vessels involved.
The Houthis, an Iran-aligned group in Yemen, have been carrying out attacks on ships in the Red Sea region for months, purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. UKMTO noted that one of the missiles mentioned in its advisory was intercepted by coalition forces defending commercial shipping, while the other landed in the water away from the vessel. Fortunately, there were no casualties or damage to the ship, and the crew members are reportedly safe.
The recurring Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global maritime traffic, leading to longer and more costly detours around Southern Africa. Moreover, these incidents have raised concerns about the potential escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, particularly amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas tensions. In response to the attacks on shipping, the United States and Britain have conducted strikes against Houthi targets.
