Tensions Escalate as Armed Attack Targets Ship in Red Sea Amid Ongoing Conflicts

Armed Assault on Merchant Vessel in Red Sea

Dubai: A merchant ship was attacked on Sunday in the Red Sea near Yemen's coast, with armed assailants firing weapons and launching rocket-propelled grenades, according to a British military oversight group.

No group has yet taken responsibility for this incident, which occurs amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and recent U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported that an armed security team aboard the vessel returned fire, indicating that the situation is still developing.

Investigations are currently underway, as stated by the authorities.

Ambrey, a maritime security firm, issued a warning about the attack, noting that eight skiffs were involved while the ship was traveling northbound in the Red Sea, suggesting that the assault was still in progress.

The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, stationed in the Middle East, directed inquiries to the Central Command, which has not yet responded to requests for further information.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have been actively targeting both commercial and military vessels in the region, claiming these actions are part of their efforts to counter Israel's military actions against Hamas in Gaza.

From November 2023 to January 2025, the Houthis launched missile and drone strikes on over 100 merchant ships, resulting in the sinking of two vessels and the deaths of four sailors, significantly disrupting trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically handles $1 trillion in goods annually.

Although the Houthis had temporarily halted their attacks during a self-imposed ceasefire, this changed following a U.S. offensive against them in mid-March, which concluded weeks later. Since then, the Houthis have refrained from targeting vessels but have continued sporadic missile strikes aimed at Israel.

In addition, the protracted conflict in Yemen between the Houthis and the exiled government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, remains unresolved.

Piracy from Somalia also poses a threat in the region, with pirates generally seeking to hijack vessels for ransom or theft.