The attack on the ship comes as Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are also suspected of numerous drone and missile attacks over the past two weeks.
An attack on a vessel in the Red Sea was reported on Sunday, which was the first attack there in months.
The Iranian-backed Houthis had carried out dozens of attacks on ships between November 2023 and at least February 2024. They had ended some of their attacks due to a ceasefire in Gaza, and previously, they had said they would continue attacks to support Gaza. They claimed to be targeting ships linked to Israel, but they also targeted cargo ships linked to Western companies.
The US launched airstrikes on the Houthis in mid-March. The airstrikes ended in April with some kind of a deal, and the Houthis appeared to stop attacks on ships. It was not clear if the Houthis would choose to change course after the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. In addition, the US bombed Iran.
Sunday’s report said that the maritime security group UKMTO had received a report of an incident 51 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, a key port in Yemen. Hodeidah is controlled by the Houthis, and Israel has struck the port several times.
Protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to show support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Sanaa, Yemen December 6, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)
The vessel was attacked by “multiple small vessels,” the report said. The vessels had opened fire, and a security team on the vessel had responded, with the incident continuing for hours. “Vessels are advised to transit with caution,” the group said.
Mixed reports hide Houthi recognition of attacks
Al-Akhbar, a pro-Iranian Lebanese media outlet, reported that “two unmanned aerial vehicles collided with the side of a ship.” It was not clear if this was the same incident. Al-Ain media in the UAE also reported on the incident.
Al-Akhbar also said that the Houthi leader had put out a statement reiterating the Houthis’ “firm position in support of the Palestinian people and its commitment to the option of confrontation against the Israeli occupation and America.”
It was not clear if this was linked to the new threat to shipping. The Houthi leader also affirmed “our firm stance in supporting the Palestinian people and our hostility towards the Israeli and American enemy, which is an enemy of Islam and Muslims and poses a danger to the entire Islamic nation.”
He also said, “No matter the challenges, difficulties, extent of sacrifices, level of blame, pressure, and media attacks, our steadfastness in our positions is our decisive choice.”
The attack on the ship comes as Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are also suspected of numerous drone and missile attacks over the past two weeks.
One of the last important attacks on a ship in the Red Sea was in February. Ynet noted at the time, “A cargo ship in the Red Sea suffered minor damage after being hit by a projectile while sailing off the coast of Yemen’s Hodeidah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency and British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Tuesday.
“UKMTO received the report just after midnight GMT Tuesday. Ambrey said the Barbados-flagged, general cargo ship owned by a British company incurred physical damage from an unmanned aerial vehicle while sailing southeast through the Red Sea. No injuries were reported. The ship performed evasive maneuvers and continued its journey, Ambrey said.”
