A cargo ship came under attack on Sunday off Yemen’s coast in the Red Sea, according to the British military, adding another security scare to one of the world’s busiest and most sensitive shipping lanes.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said the incident was reported near Hodeida, the Yemeni port city controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, about 30 nautical miles, or 55 kilometres, southwest of the city. Authorities said they were investigating the report.

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A brush with danger upon the Red Sea

The UKMTO said the ship reported being “under attack by unknown armed assailants”.

According to the British military, a skiff approached the bulk carrier and opened fire, prompting security guards aboard the ship to return fire before the craft moved back toward a larger vessel some 2 nautical miles, or 3.7 kilometres, away with its automatic identification system switched off.

Officials said the cargo ship and its crew were safe.

No banner raised for this attack

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. That detail is notable in a region where Houthi forces have repeatedly threatened maritime targets and, during the Gaza war, launched drones and missiles at vessels transiting near the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea.

Those strikes had previously forced many shipping companies to divert around the southern tip of Africa rather than use the Suez Canal.

The Houthis have said they may resume attacks on ships, but the group has not been carrying out such strikes in recent weeks.

Fresh unrest keeps the waters on edge

The latest alert also comes against the backdrop of broader insecurity around Yemen’s waters. Somali pirates have also been active farther away in the Gulf of Aden, including an attack on July 1 on a vessel about 76 nautical miles south of Balhaf. Four armed men on a small craft caused minor damage to the ship’s bridge.

There have been reports of fresh ground fighting south of Hodeidah on Sunday between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and troops aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

This adds to the maritime threats in the region which are unfolding alongside renewed conflict on land.

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FAQs

Q1: Where did the cargo ship attack near Yemen take place?

Ans: The attack was reported about 30 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s Hodeidah port in the Red Sea, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Q2: Who was responsible for the Red Sea cargo ship attack?

Ans: No group had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of reporting, and the incident remains under investigation.