A commercial ship near the Yemeni port of Hodeida was hit by a missile attack, causing it to take on water, according to the maritime security firm Ambrey. The vessel was targeted with three missiles and sustained damage to the cargo hold, leading to water ingress. It also began to list, as reported in the distress call received by Ambrey. The ship's identity and the exact number of crew members on board were not disclosed by the firm.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), overseen by Britain's Royal Navy, confirmed that the ship had been struck by missiles and suffered damage. Fortunately, the crew members were reported to be safe, and the ship was en route to its next port of call.
Although no entity has claimed responsibility for the attack, it occurred amidst a series of drone and missile strikes on shipping associated with Israel by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. These actions have prompted some shipping companies to reroute vessels away from the Red Sea, a crucial trade route that typically handles approximately 12 percent of global trade.
Since January, the United States and Britain have conducted retaliatory strikes on Houthi targets in response to the shipping attacks. Despite these measures, the Houthis have remained undeterred, vowing to target US and British vessels, as well as any ships bound for Israeli ports.
Last Monday, US military forces intercepted a drone over the Red Sea originating from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). In an earlier incident in March, a ship carrying fertilizer sank in the Gulf of Aden after being hit by Houthi-launched missiles. Additionally, the Houthi rebels seized the vehicle carrier Galaxy Leader and its crew in November.
