Cargo Ship Attacked in Red Sea Near Yemen, British Military Reports

A cargo ship was reportedly attacked on Sunday while navigating the Red Sea, approximately 30 nautical miles southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, according to the British military.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) indicated that the attack was carried out by unidentified armed assailants as the vessel was near the coastal city, which is held by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

Details of the incident reveal that a small skiff approached the bulk carrier and opened fire, prompting the ship's security team to return fire. The assailants subsequently retreated to a larger vessel that was approximately 2 nautical miles away, with its automatic identification system turned off.

Fortunately, the cargo ship and its crew were reported safe following the incident. The UKMTO has confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the specifics of the attack.

No group has yet taken responsibility for the assault. However, the Houthis have previously issued threats to resume attacks on maritime vessels, although such actions have not been observed recently. A spokesman for the Houthi faction did not respond to inquiries regarding the incident.

Historically, the Houthis have targeted ships traversing waters near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic chokepoint at the southern end of the Red Sea. Their past actions, particularly during the ongoing Gaza conflict, have led some shipping companies to alter their routes, opting to navigate around the southern tip of Africa instead of through the Suez Canal.

In a related note, there have been reports of piracy in the broader region. On July 1, suspected pirates attacked a vessel 76 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen, causing minor damage.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).