A suspected missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted a commercial vessel in the southern Red Sea on Sunday night, though no damage or injuries were reported. The missile splashed in close proximity to the ship as it traveled near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, around 30 miles west of Yemen’s port city of Mocha. The vessel and its crew were unharmed and continued their journey to the next port.
While the Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, they have previously launched multiple assaults on shipping in the region, citing their support for Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict with Israel. Over the past year, the rebels have targeted over 90 merchant vessels, with some attacks leading to the seizure or sinking of ships and the deaths of sailors.
The Houthis maintain that their attacks are aimed at vessels associated with Israel, the US, or the UK, in response to the ongoing Israeli campaign in Gaza. However, many of the vessels hit have no direct links to the conflict. The rebels have also attacked US Navy warships, with a recent strike on November 11 targeting two US vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, though it was unsuccessful.
In retaliation, the US and UK have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, and Israel has conducted airstrikes in response to missile and drone attacks on its territory. Despite these countermeasures, the Houthis continue to disrupt shipping in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.