A recent suspected attack by the Houthis took place on Tuesday when a drone boat loaded with explosives hit a commercial vessel in the Red Sea. This information comes from both the British military and private security sources.
This incident occurs amidst rising tensions in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which poses a risk of escalating into a larger regional war. Notably, this seems to be the Houthis’ first assault on commercial shipping in several weeks, following an earlier missile attack on the same day.
While the Houthis have not officially claimed responsibility yet—often delaying such acknowledgments—the attacks have sparked concern. The drone strike happened about 70 miles from Yemen’s Hodeida port. A ship captain reported observing four unidentified splashes near their vessel, which the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) suggested could be missiles or drones.
Shortly after the initial strike, a second attack was reported further north. The private intelligence company Ambrey confirmed the two incidents and identified the first attack’s weapon as a drone boat, a method increasingly employed by Houthi forces.
This drone managed to breach one of the ship’s ballast tanks, critical for maintaining buoyancy. Historically, the Houthis have targeted ships’ waterlines to disable them. The attacked vessel was reportedly heading towards the Suez Canal with armed security onboard, although it remains unclear if both attacks targeted the same ship.
In tandem with these actions, a Houthi spokesperson announced drone strikes launched at Israel, though these claims have not been verified by Israeli authorities, who are currently focused on threats from Hezbollah.
The Red Sea, once a vital route for over $1 trillion in global trade yearly, has become increasingly perilous due to Houthi activities. Since the escalation of the Gaza conflict in October, the Houthis have assaulted over 80 merchant vessels, resulting in the sinking of two ships and the tragic deaths of four sailors.
While some attacks targeted ships believed to be linked to Israel or its allies, many vessels struck have had no direct ties to the conflict. The last known attack by the Houthis on a commercial vessel occurred on September 2, and just last week, they claimed responsibility for targeting U.S. Navy ships, all of which were successfully intercepted.
In response to the Houthi attacks, Israeli forces have conducted airstrikes on Hodeida.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press