2 Ships Targeted in Suspected Houthi Attack in Red Sea

A container ship crosses an oil platform at the Gulf of Suez toward the Red Sea before entering the Suez Canal, outside of Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 1, 2020. Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Two vessels were struck while traversing in the Red Sea off Yemen on Tuesday, both sustaining damage in what are believed to be attacks carried out by the Houthi terrorist group, according to a UK maritime agency.

These incidents could mark the Iran-backed Houthis’ first attacks on commercial ships in weeks amid increased tensions between Israel and another Iran-backed terrorist group, Hezbollah, in Lebanon.

The first ship was hit by a drone boat 64 nautical miles (73 miles) northwest of Al Hodeida, Yemen, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)—a maritime monitoring component affiliated with the British navy—said in an update on Oct. 1.

The vessel reported spotting four splashes “in close proximity” before the attack happened. UKMTO stated that the vessel’s ballast tank was punctured in the attack but that all crew were safe and that the ship proceeded to its next call of port.

A second attack happened shortly after, at 97 nautical miles (111 miles) northwest of Al Hodeida. UKMTO said the vessel sustained damage from a missile strike but that all crew members were safe.

The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Just days earlier, the Israeli military struck Houthi targets in Yemen, which included power plants and a seaport that it claimed was used by the Houthis to transfer oil.

“Over the past year, the Houthis have been operating under the direction and funding of Iran, and in cooperation with Iraqi militias, in order to attack the State of Israel, undermine regional stability, and disrupt global freedom of navigation,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote in a post on X on Sept. 29.

On Sept. 2, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the rebels fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles and a drone at the Panama-owned Blue Lagoon and the Saudi-owned Amjad, which were carrying crude oil.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack on the Blue Lagoon. But U.S. officials said the group was also responsible for the attack on the second tanker.

“These reckless acts of terrorism by the Houthis continue to destabilize regional and global commerce, as well as put the lives of civilian mariners and maritime ecosystems at risk,” CENTCOM stated on Sept. 2.

The Houthi attacks on commercial shipping began in the fall of 2023 in response to the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people and took hostage around 250 more.

The Houthis have said the attacks are targeting ships affiliated with Israel and demonstrate a measure of support for Gaza’s Palestinian population and that they will continue until the Gaza conflict ends.

Stephen Katte contributed to this report.