A merchant vessel was damaged in the Red Sea near Yemen in a drone attack attributed to Houthi rebels amidst escalating threats to maritime security in the region. The incident, located west of Hodeidah, follows a series of similar attacks as part of Yemen’s ongoing conflict.
Early Sunday morning, a merchant vessel was damaged by a drone attack in the Red Sea near Yemen, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British maritime security agency. The incident occurred approximately 65 nautical miles (120 kilometers) west of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. No injuries were reported among the crew, and the ship is continuing to its next destination.
This incident is part of a series of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have been launching drones and missiles at ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have stated that these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
The UKMTO and British security firm Ambrey identified the damaged vessel as a Liberia-flagged fully cellular container ship but did not disclose its name.
In recent months, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on maritime routes, resulting in the sinking of two vessels, the seizure of another, and the deaths of at least three seafarers.
On Saturday, the US Central Command reported destroying three Houthi nautical drones within a 24-hour period and noted that three anti-ship missiles were launched into the Gulf of Aden by the group. No casualties or significant damage were reported from these incidents.
Authorities are currently investigating the latest drone attack near Hodeidah, but no attribution has been provided for the aircraft involved.
