Hostile Encounter in Yemeni Waters

A ship's captain reported an attack by two small crafts near Yemen. This incident is part of ongoing militant actions by Iran-aligned Houthis supporting Palestine in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The attack has disrupted global trade, leading to rerouted maritime traffic around Africa.

A ship's captain reported an attack from two small crafts 45 nautical miles south of Yemen's Mokha, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Thursday. A rocket-propelled grenade exploded near the vessel.

Iran-aligned Houthi militants have been launching attacks on international shipping near Yemen since November, in solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Despite the attack, the vessel and crew are safe and proceeding to the next port of call, according to UKMTO.

The assailants, reportedly wearing white and yellow raincoats, were aboard two small boats, one white and one black, each carrying four individuals. The escalation has prompted U.S. and British retaliatory strikes and disrupted global trade, causing ships to reroute away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, opting for the longer route around Africa instead.