A commercial ship traveling through the Red Sea was attacked on Wednesday, suspected to have been carried out by Yemen's Houthi rebels, according to the British military. The vessel was left 'not under command' following the assault, which occurred around 140 kilometers west of the rebel-held Yemeni port city of Hodeida.
The attack involved men on small boats opening fire with small arms and three projectiles hitting the ship. It was not immediately clear whether the projectiles were drones or missiles. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the ship lost all power as a result of the attack.
The Houthis, known for their monthslong campaign targeting ships amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack. However, they have targeted over 80 vessels with missiles and drones since the conflict began in October, resulting in the seizure and sinking of ships and casualties among sailors.
The rebels claim to target ships linked to Israel, the United States, or the U.K. to pressure an end to Israel's actions against Hamas in Gaza. Despite this, many of the attacked ships have had little to no connection to the conflict, including those bound for Iran.
As tensions escalate in the region, with Iran threatening retaliation against Israel over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, the U.S. military has deployed additional assets to the area. This includes the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, the USS Georgia guided missile submarine, and the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group in the Gulf of Oman.
Furthermore, F-22 fighter jets have been dispatched to the region, and the USS Wasp, carrying F-35 fighter jets, is positioned in the Mediterranean Sea. The situation remains fluid as military forces prepare for potential further escalations in the region.
