Merchant Vessel Attacked by Multiple Small Craft in Red Sea

A merchant vessel was attacked early Monday by three small craft in the Red Sea near Yemen's port city of Hodeidah. The vessel and its crew were unharmed and proceeded to the next port. The Houthi group has claimed similar attacks, which have disrupted global trade routes.

A merchant vessel reported it had been attacked early on Monday by three small craft in the Red Sea about 70 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's port city of Hodeidah, Britain's maritime agency and security firm Ambrey said.

An unmanned small craft collided with the vessel twice and two manned small craft fired at it, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The vessel and crew were reported safe, and it was proceeding to the next port of call, it said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. But since November, the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen has launched drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The group says these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians affected by Israel's war in Gaza. Ambrey said the vessel fitted the Houthi target profile.

The vessel conducted "self-protection measures", then after 15 minutes the small craft aborted the attack, UKMTO said. In dozens of attacks since November, the Houthis have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least three sailors.

The attacks have upended global trade by forcing ship owners to reroute vessels away from the Suez Canal, and drawn retaliatory U.S. and British strikes since February.