In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a container ship traveling through the Gulf of Aden was hit by a suspected missile attack carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, as reported by authorities on Sunday. This incident likely marks the first assault by the group following Israeli airstrikes aimed at them.
The Houthis had ceased their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea corridor for about two weeks without providing any explanation. These attacks had slowed down previously during Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, dating back to November. However, the resumption of attacks followed the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, a key supporter of the Houthis, raising concerns of the conflict escalating regionally.
The attack occurred approximately 225 kilometers (140 miles) southeast of Aden, a known area for previous Houthi attacks. While a security official aboard the vessel confirmed a missile hit the ship, there were no reports of fires, water leaks, or oil spills observed. The vessel hit was not immediately identified by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO), which acts as an information hub for incidents in the Middle East waters.
Reports from the private security firm Ambrey indicated that the targeted vessel was likely the Liberian-flagged container ship Groton, which had departed from Fujairah in the UAE en route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The managers of the Groton, based in Greece, had not responded to requests for comments following the attack.
Although the Houthis did not claim responsibility for the attack right away, they sometimes take hours or days to acknowledge their assaults. In their campaign, the rebels have targeted over 70 ships using missiles and drones, resulting in casualties and the seizure or sinking of vessels. Despite claiming to target vessels linked to Israel, the US, or the UK, some of the attacked ships have had no connections to the conflict.
As tensions rise following the killing of Haniyeh, concerns over a new escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict have been heightened. The US military announced the deployment of a fighter jet squadron to the Middle East and the positioning of an aircraft carrier in the region to address potential threats. Furthermore, recent military actions included the destruction of a Houthi missile and launcher in Yemen by US Central Command forces.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, sparked by an October 7 attack, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Palestinian health officials report thousands of deaths in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank during the course of the conflict. The situation remains volatile, with regional powers closely monitoring developments to prevent further escalation.
