British Maritime Security Firm Reports Incident Near Yemen's Aden Port

On Wednesday, British maritime security firm Ambrey reported an incident southwest of Yemen's port city of Aden. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report of an explosion approximately 72 nautical miles east-southeast of the port of Djibouti. The vessel and crew were reported safe.

According to Ambrey, the incident occurred in an area where Houthi militants often target ships they claim are linked to Israel or the United States. The Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group in Yemen, have been attacking ships in the Red Sea region since November as part of what they claim is a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel in Gaza.

The Houthis have previously attacked what they said were two American ships and an Israeli vessel in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, according to the group's military spokesman. "We will continue to prevent Israeli navigation or any navigation heading to the ports of occupied Palestine in the Red and Arabian Seas, as well as in the Indian Ocean," the spokesman stated.

Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping through the Suez Canal, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive trips around southern Africa. The United States and Britain have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to these attacks.

Why this matters: The incident underscores the ongoing threat to maritime security in the region posed by the Houthi rebels. The attacks have had a significant impact on global shipping, with traffic through the Suez Canal plunging by 66% as ships are forced to take longer, costlier routes to avoid the danger.

While the Houthis had taken a week-long break from their campaign against commercial shipping prior to this incident, the explosion near the vessel may signal an end to that pause. Ambrey is investigating the matter and will provide updates when available. Authorities are advising ships to exercise caution when transiting the area and to report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.

Key Takeaways

• Houthi rebels attacked a ship southwest of Yemen's Aden port, crew safe.
• Houthis claim attacks target ships linked to Israel, US in Red Sea region.
• Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping through Suez Canal, forcing rerouting.
• US, UK have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to attacks.
• Incident underscores ongoing maritime security threat posed by Houthi rebels in region.