The British Maritime Operations Authority announced in a statement on Friday that it is investigating reports of an “incident” occurring approximately 50 nautical miles north of the Yemeni port of Mocha.
The authority urged ships to navigate cautiously and report any suspicious activities. This warning coincides with a series of attacks on cargo ships in the region, following the targeting of container ships by the Houthi rebels with drones and missiles, amidst the Israeli war on Gaza.
The Houthi militia declared targeting and seizing Israeli ships or those heading to Israel while crossing the vital strait. On Thursday, the Iran-backed militia announced targeting a ship belonging to the Danish shipping company Maersk.
The recent incidents and attacks against ships near Yemen have seen a significant escalation, with multiple sources reporting various aspects of these events.
Yemen’s Houthi movement has issued a warning that it will target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality. This statement is part of a broader context where the Houthis, who are Iran-linked, have escalated their actions in the Red Sea. They’ve warned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports, stating that if Gaza does not receive the food and medicines it needs, all ships bound for Israeli ports in the Red Sea will be targeted by their armed forces.
This warning and the subsequent attacks are closely tied to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israel continues its military operations. In response to these operations, the Houthis have attacked and seized several Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea and its strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial sea lane for global oil shipment. Recent incidents include attacks on three commercial vessels in international waters, which prompted intervention from a U.S. Navy destroyer.
Further details reveal that a U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Carney, responded to three separate attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. These attacks, emanating from Yemen-controlled areas by the Houthi rebel group, involved the use of uncrewed aerial drones and missiles. The USS Carney intervened to aid the commercial vessels, shooting down several drones and responding to distress calls from ships like the Unity Explorer and the Number 9, both of which were hit by missiles.
Another significant incident involved the hijacking of an Israeli-linked cargo ship in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The rebels took 25 crew members hostage, citing the ship’s ties to Israel as the reason for their action. This incident highlights the broader strategy of the Houthis to target ships associated with Israel. The office of Israel’s Prime Minister condemned the attack, framing it as an act of Iranian terrorism with implications for global shipping lane security.
