Ship attacked with gunfire, rocket-propelled grenades in Red Sea off Yemen: UK maritime agency

Gunmen aboard small boats launched a coordinated assault on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and small arms fire, according to international maritime monitors. British military officials later said the ship was taking on water and the crew was preparing to abandon the vessel.

The incident took place approximately 51 nautical miles (94 km) southwest of Yemen’s Hodeida port, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. The vessel, which was transiting northbound, was attacked by multiple skiffs. An onboard armed security team returned fire, and the situation remained ongoing as of the latest update.

UK-based maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the ship came under fire from eight skiffs in a well-coordinated attempt. Despite the sustained assault, no casualties or severe damage have been reported so far.

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While no group has claimed responsibility, the area is under the control of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have been targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea since November 2023. Their campaign, which began in response to the Israel-Hamas war, initially targeted Israeli-linked ships and later expanded to include vessels associated with the United States and the United Kingdom following joint airstrikes in Yemen earlier this year.

Although the Houthis agreed to a limited ceasefire with the US in May 2024, they vowed to continue targeting Israeli vessels. The group's attacks have disrupted shipping traffic along one of the world’s busiest trade routes, prompting several freight operators to reroute vessels around Africa to avoid the Red Sea.

The Red Sea typically accounts for around 12% of global trade, according to the International Chamber of Shipping.