UK Maritime Authorities Report Attack on Cargo Ship off Yemen

A commercial vessel near Yemen reported an attack by unknown armed assailants on July 5, UK maritime authorities said, in the latest security incident along one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.A cargo ship sent a distress call after coming under attack in the Red Sea, about 30 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port city of Hodeida. The incident happened in waters that have seen repeated attacks on commercial shipping since late 2023.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that authorities were investigating the attack and urged ships traveling through the area to remain alert and report suspicious activity.Officials have not identified the attackers, and no group immediately claimed responsibility.Authorities have not reported any injuries or damage to the vessel.The latest attack follows another security incident reported only four days earlier in nearby waters.On July 1, UKMTO said armed men approached and boarded a commercial vessel about 76 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen. Crew members gathered inside the ship’s protected safe room, known as a citadel, the agency said, while the incident unfolded.UKMTO initially described the event as suspicious activity, but later reclassified it as an illegal boarding after receiving additional information from the ship’s master.“The Master has further reported that the unauthorised personnel caused damage to the bridge and several adjacent compartments. The crew remain secure in the citadel and are reported safe,” the UKMTO said in its update.A locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. APEarlier in the same report, UKMTO said the company security officer reported that a small armed boat carrying four people approached the vessel. The agency also said the craft was equipped with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.Authorities continue to investigate both incidents.Red Sea RouteThe attacks come as security risks remain high in the Red Sea and nearby waters around Yemen.The Red Sea carries a significant share of global trade. Many cargo ships traveling between Europe and Asia pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Any disruption along this route can delay shipments and increase transportation costs worldwide.The Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group controls much of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, and the port city of Hodeida. The group seized control of these areas in 2014, forcing Yemen’s internationally recognized government from the capital and leading to a Saudi-led military intervention in 2015. The conflict has continued for more than a decade.The Houthis have repeatedly warned that they could target ships traveling through the Red Sea.The group said on March 20 that it could block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and warned neighboring countries against helping intercept missiles launched by Iran, Yemen, or allied groups.The Houthis said countries including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates would be treated as supporting their opponents if they helped stop such missile attacks. The group has also continued to threaten ships linked to Israel.Plumes of smoke rise from what is said to be a Liberia-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier, the MV Magic Seas, that was, according to Yemen’s Houthis, attacked following an alleged exchange with the captain, off southwest Yemen, in this screen grab taken from a handout video released on July 8, 2025. Houthi Media Center/Handout via ReutersHouthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said on June 8 that Israeli shipping in the Red Sea would be banned and warned that Israeli-linked vessels would be considered military targets, according to Iran’s state-aligned Mehr News Agency.“We affirm the right of our people and free peoples to confront US-Israeli aggression,” Saree said on June 8, according to Mehr.The Houthis have attacked commercial shipping and launched missiles toward Israel since the Israel–Hamas war began in October 2023.Their operations have included drone and missile attacks on merchant vessels and the seizure of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader in November 2023.