Houthi Rebels Suspected in Missile Attack on Ship in Red Sea: UKMTO

On Monday, April 29, a ship in the Red Sea was damaged in a suspected missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels, according to authorities. This incident marks the latest assault as part of the rebels' campaign against international shipping in the crucial maritime route.

The attack took place off the coast of Mokha, Yemen, as reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center of the British military. The ship sustained damage in the attack, but fortunately, its crew is safe and en route to its next port of call. The UKMTO urged vessels to exercise caution in the area, given the circumstances.

According to the private security firm Ambrey, a salvo of three missiles targeted a Malta-flagged container ship that was traveling from Djibouti to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The targeting of the vessel was reportedly due to its listed operator’s ongoing trade with Israel, as stated by Ambrey. However, CMA CGM, a Marseille-based shipper, denied that their Malta-flagged CMA CGM Manta Ray, which was due to sail to Jeddah from Djibouti on Monday, could have been targeted in the incident as the vessel remained at harbor in Djibouti.

In response to the incident, the Houthis released a statement late Monday, expressing that “The Yemeni Armed Forces carried out military operations against hostile warships in the Red Sea, of which two American warships were targeted with a number of drones.” The statement emphasized that these attacks on ships will continue unless specific conditions are met.

International Response

Meanwhile, the Italian Defense Ministry reported that its frigate Virgino Fasan successfully shot down a Houthi drone near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden earlier that morning. This action prevented any significant damage to the escorted vessel, and both the frigate Fasan and the protected merchant vessel continued their planned route as intended.

The Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are purportedly aimed at pressuring Israel to end its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Notably, the U.S. Maritime Administration has reported over 50 attacks on shipping, including the seizure of one vessel and the sinking of another by the Houthi rebels since November. While these attacks have decreased in recent weeks due to a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen, the threat has affected shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Although it was speculated that the rebels may have been running out of weapons, their recent actions suggest otherwise.

During the past week, the rebels renewed their attacks, with the U.S. military responding by shooting down five drones over the Red Sea. Central Command stated that these drones posed a threat to U.S., coalition and merchant vessels in the region. Additionally, the Houthis claimed to have shot down a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bryon J. McGarry confirmed that “a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 drone crashed in Yemen.” Investigations into these incidents are currently underway.