The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a coordination center for maritime trade, has reported an attack by Houthi rebels on a vessel located 60km off the coast of Aden, Yemen. The center’s website has published a corresponding statement.
According to the center, rockets flew at distances of 0.5km and 4km from the ship, without causing any harm to the crew or the vessel.
Amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yemeni Houthi rebels have been launching attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea since October 2023. Drones and rockets are being used for these purposes.
The Houthis claim that their targets are solely ships entering Israeli ports or those owned by individuals associated with Israel. However, their actions have begun to disrupt international shipping.
Several companies have announced that they will no longer send their ships through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and serves as a vital shipping route for the entire world.
During the night of January 12, 2024, the United States and the United Kingdom, with support from the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and Bahrain, launched a series of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. US President Joe Biden referred to this move as a direct response to the Houthi attacks on foreign vessels.
Previously, the US had accused Iran of preparing Houthi attacks on trade ships in the Red Sea.
