A UK cargo ship has reportedly come “under attack” off the coast of Yemen in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
It comes amid rising tensions in the Red Sea, as Iran-backed Houthis launch repeated drone and missile attacks on Israel-linked ships.
AlamyA Yemen’s coast guard boat sails past the FSO Safer vessel at Ras Issa port in Hodeidah province, Yemen, in May 2023[/caption]
AlamyA cargo ship enters the Mersin port in Turkey on January 5, 2024[/caption]
The previous strikes, triggered by the ongoing war in Gaza, have significantly disrupted maritime trade as they have targeted routes that account for about 15 per cent of the world’s shipping traffic.
On Sunday night, there was allegedly another attack on a UK-registered cargo ship, 35 nautical miles south of Al Mukha in Yemen.
United Kingdom Trade Operations (UKMTO) said: “The Master reports an explosion in close proximity to the vessel resulting in damage.
“Master reports all crew are safe. Military authorities are investigating.
“Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”
There were no further updates from UKMTO as at midnight.
But Sky News, citing private security firm Ambrey, reported that the ship was a UK-registered vessel and that it had come “under attack in the Bab al-Mandab Strait – also known as the “Gate of Tears” – which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
The ship was supposedly heading north, from Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates to Varna, Bulgaria, when it was bombarded.
Ambrey said: “The partially laden vessel briefly slowed from ten to six knots and deviated course, and contacted the Djiboutian Navy, before returning to her previous course and speed.”
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched repeated strikes on international commercial shipping in the Red Sea since mid-November, purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians.
Several shipping companies have been forced to reroute their vessels passing through the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to take a longer alternative route around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
Such changes have resulted in major delays and impacted companies including Suzuki, Tesla, BP, Shell, Qatar Energy, DHL, FedEx, Adidas, Marks & Spencer, Next, Primark, Sainsbury’s, and Target.
And the price of global shipping containers has jumped by more than 300 per cent between November and January.
The UK and the US have carried out joint airstrikes against the Houthis in recent weeks to try and stop their attacks on shipping.
It was believed the cargo ship which came “under attack” on Sunday night was Belize-flagged, Lebanese-operated, and UK-registered.
Who are the Houthis?
THE Houthi rebels are terrorising the Red Sea by launching persistent missile and drone attacks on vessels and warships – but who are they?
The Shia militant group, which now controls most of Yemen, spent over a decade being largely ignored by the world.
However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war they sprung from relative obscurity to holding roughly £1trillion of world trade hostage – turning one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes into an active warzone.
Their warped slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
Why are they attacking ships?
The rebel group has been launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships – including warships – they deem to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally, Hamas.
However, in reality there have been frequent attacks on commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel – forcing global sea traffic to halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices soaring.
The sea assaults have threatened to ignite a full-blown war in the Middle East as intense ripples from Israel’s war in Gaza are felt across the region – with Iran suspected of stoking the chaos.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea increased 50 per cent between November and December as the rebel group’s chiefs pledged their assaults would continue until Israel stopped its offensive in Gaza.
And despite repeated threats from the West and joint US and UK strikes blitzing their strongholds in Yemen – Iran’s terror proxy appears undeterred.
