Drone attack damages merchant ship in Red Sea near Yemen
A merchant ship was damaged by a drone attack near Yemen in the Red Sea, with no injuries reported. The attack is part of ongoing hostilities involving the Houthi rebels targeting vessels in the region.
On Sunday, a merchant ship was damaged by a drone attack in the Red Sea, near Yemen, as reported by a British maritime security agency. The incident, which did not result in any injuries, occurred approximately 65 nautical miles west of Hodeida, a port city controlled by the Houthi rebels. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the attack involved an uncrewed aerial system, causing damage but leaving all crew members unharmed. The ship, identified by the private security firm Ambrey as a Liberia-flagged container vessel bound for Qingdao, China, is now en route to its next destination.
This attack is part of a series of ongoing hostilities in the region. The Houthis have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea as part of their blockade, which they link to the conflict in Gaza. To date, around 30 civilian vessels have been damaged, with two sunk during these operations. The US Central Command disclosed that it destroyed three Houthi maritime drones in the preceding 24 hours and reported that three anti-ship missiles were launched by the Houthis into the Gulf of Aden, causing no significant damage or injuries.
In response to these tensions, the US has deployed another aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt, to the Red Sea to replace USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which has completed its mission. This move is part of a broader effort involving multiple nations to counter Houthi drone and missile attacks and ensure the safety of navigation in this vital maritime corridor.