Ship Attacked by Drones, Gunfire in Red Sea
A vessel in the Red Sea near Yemen was attacked with gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades, forcing the crew to abandon ship, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incident is under investigation.
Escalating Tactics
The UKMTO reported the ship’s security team returned fire during the assault. Maritime security firm Ambrey stated the merchant ship was attacked by eight skiffs. The firm later added bomb-carrying drone boats also targeted the ship, potentially marking a significant escalation.
Ambrey indicated that two drone boats struck the ship, while onboard armed guards destroyed another two. The security officer reported “all crew have now abandoned ship and are awaiting assistance”
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Houthi Connection?
No immediate claim of responsibility has been issued for the attack. The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet directed inquiries to Central Command, which acknowledged awareness of the incident, but offered no further details.
Previous Attacks
**Yemen**’s Houthi rebels have previously launched missile and drone attacks on commercial and military vessels in the region, claiming these actions are in support of ending **Israel**’s offensive in the Gaza Strip.
From November 2023 to January 2025, the Houthis reportedly targeted over 100 merchant ships using missiles and drones, resulting in the sinking of two vessels and the deaths of four sailors.
Trade Impact
These attacks have significantly disrupted trade flow through the Red Sea, a critical corridor typically handling $1 trillion to $1.52 trillion in goods annually. Maersk, a major shipping company, temporarily suspended transits through the Red Sea in late 2023 due to similar threats (Maersk).
Recent Developments
The Houthi attacks were paused during a self-declared ceasefire until the U.S. initiated a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March. While that assault concluded weeks later, the Houthis have continued occasional missile attacks targeting **Israel**, but had not attacked vessels until this incident.
Somali pirates have also been active in the area, often seeking to capture vessels for robbery or ransom.