On Wednesday, the British military reported a likely boat-borne bomb attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels against a commercial ship in the Red Sea. This incident marks a concerning escalation despite ongoing efforts led by the U.S. to safeguard this crucial waterway.
The use of a boat loaded with explosives evoked memories of the 2000 USS Cole attack, a suicide assault by al-Qaida that claimed 17 lives. The USS Cole, now part of the U.S. campaign in the Red Sea, was observed by journalists visiting the USS Laboon, one of her sister ships.
While the Houthis have not immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, it is common for them to acknowledge their assaults after some time. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center issued a warning to shippers, describing the vessel as being struck in its stern by a small white craft southwest of the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeida.
The vessel's captain reported that the ship was taking on water and was not under the crew's command. Additionally, the vessel was hit for a second time by an unknown airborne projectile. The nature of the attack, whether involving individuals on board or a remotely piloted 'drone' boat, remains unclear.
The Houthis, who have been engaged in conflict with a Saudi-led coalition for years, have targeted shipping in the Red Sea corridor amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. While they claim these attacks are in support of Palestinians, the targets often have no direct connection to the conflict.
Since November, the Houthis have launched over 50 attacks on shipping, resulting in casualties and vessel seizures. The U.S. Maritime Administration reported these incidents, prompting a U.S.-led airstrike campaign against the rebels. The recent attack coincided with AP journalists interviewing Cmdr. Eric Blomberg aboard the USS Laboon, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the region.
Blomberg emphasized that the targeted vessels were unrelated to the conflict, underscoring the impact on innocent merchant sailors navigating the Red Sea. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely as efforts to ensure maritime security in the region persist.
