Hodeida: Fresh tension erupted in the Gulf after a cargo ship came under attack by unidentified armed assailants off Yemen’s Red Sea coast on Sunday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), confirmed the attack, marking the latest maritime security incident in the region.
Reports said that the attack took place about 30 nautical miles (55 kilometres) southwest of the Yemeni port city of Hodeida, which is controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The vessel reported that it was “under attack by unknown armed assailants,” prompting authorities to launch an investigation into the incident, as reported by News18.
The Houthis, who have previously targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, did not comment on the incident. A spokesperson for the group did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack till now.
The Red Sea has become an increasingly important route for Saudi oil exports after the conflict involving Iran disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. In June, the Houthis declared a ban on Israeli ships passing through the Red Sea, adding to concerns over the safety of commercial vessels in the region, Bloomberg reported.
It also reported that while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had picked up following a US-Iran agreement aimed at ending the conflict, the number of vessels sailing along the Omani coast fell on Sunday. The decline came a day after several ships exiting the waterway abruptly reversed course, highlighting continued uncertainty over maritime security.
The Houthis have not carried out any confirmed strikes in recent months, despite their threat to resume attacks on ships. During the Gaza war, however, the group repeatedly launched drones and missiles at commercial vessels passing through waters near territories under its control, particularly around the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The attacks disrupted one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, forcing many global shipping companies to divert vessels around the southern tip of Africa instead of using the shorter route through the Suez Canal.
Recent piracy threats have added to maritime security concerns in the region. Earlier this month, on July 1, suspected Somali pirates attacked a vessel about 76 nautical miles (140 kilometres) south of the Yemeni port town of Balhaf. According to the UKMTO, four armed men aboard a small craft approached the ship and caused minor damage to its bridge before leaving the area.
Authorities are continuing to investigate Sunday’s attack as security risks remain elevated across the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
