Private Military Company Thwarts Houthi Attack on Civilian Ship

Off the coast of Yemen, an unidentified group—believed to be affiliated with the Houthis—launched an armed attack on a civilian commercial vessel, employing small arms and grenade launchers.

This incident was reported by the Associated Press.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the armed security team aboard the vessel responded with return fire.

According to them, the situation is “still unfolding.”

The incident occurred approximately 100 kilometers southwest of the city of Hodeidah, which is controlled by the Yemeni Houthi rebels.

The private maritime security company Ambrey reported that the vessel had been attacked by eight small boats while transiting northward through the Red Sea.

Ambrey later clarified that the ship had also been targeted by kamikaze drones.

Two drones struck the ship, while two others were destroyed by the onboard security forces.

At the end of April, U.S. intelligence assessments revealed that after nearly six weeks of airstrikes on Yemen, the Houthis’ combat capabilities and their intentions to attack commercial vessels in the Red Sea and carry out strikes against Israel remained largely unchanged.

According to U.S. officials, since the air campaign began on March 15, over 300 airstrikes have been carried out against targets in Yemen, striking more than 700 objectives.

While these strikes have forced the Houthis to go deeper underground and left them in a “confused and disorganized state,” their combat capabilities remain largely intact.