Merchant Ship Attacked Off Yemen

Three shells hit a merchant ship off the coast of Yemen today, limiting its ability to maneuver, the UK Maritime Safety Agency (UKMTO) announced.

A ship was "hit by two unidentified projectiles before being hit by a third projectile" west of the port city of Hodeida, UKMTO said, as quoted by the French news agency AFP. 

The British agency said that the attack caused no casualties, but that the ship, which was not identified, was limited in terms of maneuvering. 

UKMTO said that the attack occurred 77 nautical miles (about 142 kilometers) west of Hodeida. This is one of Yemen's main ports, from where the Shiite Houthi rebels have launched attacks on ships linked to Israel. 

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for today's attack. According to the ship's captain, who was not identified, two small boats approached the ship during the night. "The first boat had between three and five people on board, while the second had about 10," UKMTO said, as quoted by the Spanish news agency EFE. 

The two small boats aimed at the merchant vessel, "which led to a brief exchange of small arms fire," it said.

After the initial incident with the vessels, the ship was subsequently hit by three shells.

"The authorities are investigating" the attack, UKMTO added.

The attack came after more than a week of no action by Tehran-backed rebels against shipping in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea.

The rebels have been attacking Israeli-linked vessels since last November, in defense of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and with the aim of damaging Israel economically.

The attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, areas essential to world trade, have driven up insurance costs and prompted many companies to sail on a much longer route around the southern tip of Africa.

The United States, Israel's closest ally, created a multinational force in December to protect shipping in the strategic zone and launched the first strikes in Yemen in January, with the help of the United Kingdom.

The Houthis are part of the so-called "axis of resistance", an Iranian-led coalition that also includes, among other organizations, the Palestinian extremist group Hamas and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

The ongoing war, which has killed more than 40,000 people, was triggered by a Hamas attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023, followed by an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip.