Armed Attack Targets Ship in the Red Sea Off Yemen

A merchant vessel came under attack in the Red Sea on Sunday, approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Hodeida, Yemen. The assault, involving gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades, was reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British military-run center monitoring maritime activity in the region.

An armed security team on board the ship responded to the attack, and the situation was described as “ongoing,” according to UKMTO. Authorities are currently investigating the incident.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The location of the assault—near territory controlled by Yemen’s Houthi rebels—raises concerns amid heightened regional tensions linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the recent Iran-Israel hostilities, and U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites.

Maritime security firm Ambrey also issued an alert, stating that the vessel had been attacked by eight fast-moving skiffs while sailing northbound through the Red Sea. The firm likewise reported that the situation appeared to be ongoing.