Cargo ship attacked in Red Sea off Yemen; security guards return fire
A cargo vessel came under attack from armed assailants 30 nautical miles southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, on Sunday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported. The ship's security guards returned fire before the attackers retreated to a larger vessel.
The attack
A cargo ship was attacked in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, the British military said. The vessel triggered a distress alert stating it was under attack by unknown armed assailants, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incident occurred 30 nautical miles (56 km) southwest of Hodeida, a port city under the control of Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
A skiff approached the bulk carrier and opened fire, prompting the ship's security guards to return fire. The skiff then sailed back to a larger ship about 2 nautical miles away, with its automatic identification system switched off. The cargo ship and its crew are safe, UKMTO said, and authorities are investigating.
The vessel is under attack by unknown armed assailants.
- Alleged pirates attack a ship 76 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen, causing minor damage to the bridge.
- A skiff approaches the bulk carrier 30 nautical miles southwest of Hodeida.
- The skiff opens fire on the cargo ship.
- The ship's security guards return fire.
- The skiff sails back to a larger ship about 2 nautical miles away with its AIS off.
Houthi threats and Red Sea security
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The Houthis have threatened to resume attacks on shipping, though they had not carried out any before Sunday's incident. A Houthi spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press.
The rebels began targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea in 2023 in response to Israel's offensive in Gaza, disrupting one of the world's busiest international shipping routes. Companies rerouted vessels around Africa to avoid the threat. The Houthis vowed to renew attacks in 2026 after the United States and Israel declared war on Iran, the group's primary international backer.
Broader maritime risks
Somali pirates have also been active recently in the nearby Gulf of Aden. On July 1, alleged pirates attacked a ship 76 nautical miles (140 km) south of the Yemeni port city of Balhaf, causing minor damage to the vessel's bridge, according to UKMTO. The Red Sea remains a high-risk zone for commercial shipping, with thousands of vessels transiting annually between Europe and Asia.
