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A ship came under attack in the Red Sea off the southwest coast of Yemen on July 6 from gunfire and self-propelled grenades launched from eight small boats, a British maritime agency and security firm said.
Armed security on the ship returned fire and the situation is ongoing, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and British maritime security firm Ambrey said in separate advisories.
The attack occurred 51 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s port city of al-Hodeidah, according to UKMTO and Ambrey, which didn’t identify the targeted ship. Al-Hodeidah and a large strip of the country’s Red Sea coast are held by the Houthis (Ansar Allah).
Later, UKMTO, citing Company Security Officer, said in an update that the ship caught fire after being struck by “unknown projectiles”.
The Houthis have carried out more than 100 attacks targeting shipping from November 2023. According to the group, the campaign is a response to the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
The attacks sank two ships, killing at least four sailors. Another ship was seized by the group. Overall, the campaign disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to reroute. The United States responded by forming a coalition to guard shipping in the Red Sea and launched strikes against Yemen.
In May, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would stop bombing the Houthi, saying that the group had agreed to stop attacks on shipping lanes in the Middle East. Under the agreement, neither the U.S. nor the Houthis would target the other, including U.S. ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, Oman said in a statement at the time.
In parallel with their campaign against shipping, the Houthis have been launching missile and drone attacks at Israel. Just hours before the attack on the ship near al-Hodeidah, Israel intercepted a missile that the group said was launched at Ben Gurion Airport.
The new attack, if claimed by the Houthis, could lead to a serious escalation in Yemen. The U.S. will likely resume strikes on the country.
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rule britannia, britannia rules the waves! with our only slightly clapped out aircraft carrier and submarines held together with superglue. why should england tremble?
perchè la britannia, popolo di froci sporchi e puzzolenti, è alla fine del suo ciclo imperialistico e se lo prenderà nel suo culo (sporco) !