A missile fired on Sunday in the Gulf of Aden may have been fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen against a cargo ship flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, according to authorities.
According to the private security company Ambrey, the missile struck the ship’s forward station, igniting a fire that was eventually extinguished by people within. Ambrey stated that although there were no injuries on board, “people on board small boats in the vicinity opened fire on the ship during the incident” after a second missile that was intended for the ship went miss.
Similar to this, an attack was reported late Saturday in the same location off Aden by the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, but no other information was given.
The Houthis were instantly suspected of carrying out the attack. Though it can occasionally take them hours or even days to recognize their attacks, the rebels did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack.
The Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital nearly a decade ago and have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since shortly after, have been targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. They say the attacks are aimed at stopping the war and supporting the Palestinians, though the attacks often target vessels that have nothing to do with the conflict.
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report from a captain of a vessel of an incident 80 nautical miles southeast of Aden.
Separately, UKMTO said it received a report from a master of a vessel about another incident 70 nautical miles southwest of Aden.
“The master reports that the vessel was hit by an unknown projectile on the aft section, which resulted in a fire. Damage control is underway,” UKMTO said in advisory note.
The Houthi militia, which controls the most populous parts of Yemen and is aligned with Iran, has attacked ships off its coast for months, saying it is acting in solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel in Gaza.
The Houthi fighters have aimed drone and missile strikes at the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden, forcing shippers since November to take longer and more costly journeys around southern Africa.
Gulf Aden is a strategic location at the entrance of the Red Sea, where the Gulf of Aden meets the Red Sea. It is a major shipping lane for the transportation of goods between Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Yemen remains in a chronic state of emergency due to over seven years of war. The conflict between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition has largely subsided, but attacks on ships continue.
Dialogue between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia offers hope for a negotiated solution, but little progress has been made. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis persists: 21.6 million people need aid, including 11 million children, and more than 4.5 million are displaced.
Recent missile strikes in Yemen
Iran-backed Houthi militants on May 18, hit a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker off Yemen’s Red Sea coast with an anti-ship missile but the crew was able to restore power and maintain course.
Background of crisis in Yemen
Yemen has been experiencing political and social instability since 2015, leading to chaos and violence. The conflict began with the Houthi rebels taking control of the capital, Sana’a, and ousting the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Since then, the country has been embroiled in a civil war, with various factions vying for power and control.
The situation has been further complicated by the involvement of foreign powers, including Saudi Arabia and Iran, who have provided support to different sides of the conflict. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the displacement of millions of people, a severe humanitarian crisis, and a weakened economy.