On November 17, 2024, Yemen’s Houthi rebels allegedly attacked a commercial ship in the Red Sea without causing damage or injuries. This incident is part of a larger pattern of Houthi aggression against maritime trade in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with more than 90 vessels targeted since October 2023. The attack occurred near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, emphasizing ongoing regional tensions surrounding shipping safety.
On the night of November 17, 2024, a suspected attack attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted a commercial vessel traversing the southern Red Sea. Fortunately, the attack resulted in no damage or injuries. Authorities reported that the incident occurred near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, approximately 48 kilometers from the Yemeni port city of Mocha, where the ship’s captain witnessed a missile splash close to the vessel. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that the crew remained safe and proceeded to their next destination. This attack occurred amid a broader campaign by the Houthis, who have intensified their operations against maritime traffic in the Red Sea, which handles about USD 1 trillion worth of goods annually. This aggression coincides with the ongoing conflicts related to the Israel-Hamas war and Israel’s operations in Lebanon. Since the outset of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis have reportedly attacked over 90 merchant vessels using missiles and drones, with some successful strikes resulting in the seizure of one ship and the sinking of two others, leading to the deaths of four sailors. The Houthis maintain that their actions are aimed predominantly at vessels associated with Israel, the United States, or the United Kingdom to compel an end to Israel’s military operations against Hamas. However, many of the targeted vessels have little or no direct ties to the ongoing conflict, including those destined for Iran. Furthermore, the rebels have succeeded in downing several American MQ-9 Reaper drones during their operations. In a recent prior attack on November 11, two U.S. Navy warships were targeted, although those attempts did not succeed in inflicting any damage.
The Houthi rebels, officially known as Ansar Allah, have been engaged in an ongoing conflict in Yemen since 2014 when they took control of the capital, Sana’a. Their actions have increasingly affected maritime operations, particularly in the strategically vital Red Sea, which is crucial for global trade. Following the escalation of violence linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthis expanded their campaign against shipping routes, invoking international concerns over safety in a region typically bustling with economic activity.
In summary, the suspected attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea underscores the heightened tensions in the region amid ongoing global conflicts. The targeting of maritime traffic has increased significantly since the Gaza conflict began, raising alarms regarding the security of shipping lanes that are essential for international trade. With no claims of responsibility yet from the Houthis and a history of targeting vessels linked to Western nations, the situation remains precarious.
Original Source: www.republicworld.com
