Merchant Ship Hit by Drone in Red Sea, All Crew Safe

A merchant ship was struck by a drone in the Red Sea, 65 nautical miles west of Hodeidah, Yemen. The ship is continuing to its next port, and all crew members are safe.

This incident follows a series of attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Recently, a Greek-owned ship sank in the Red Sea after being attacked by the Houthis. The ship, known as MV Tutor, is the second vessel sunk by the Houthis since March, when a British registered vessel, Rubymar, was downed by ballistic missiles.

The Houthis have launched numerous missile and drone attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Israel’s invasion of Gaza following an attack by Hamas on Southern Israel last October. These actions have increased tensions in the Middle East and disrupted international commerce and humanitarian aid delivery.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has condemned the Houthis’ actions, stating that they threaten the lives of people unrelated to the Gaza conflict and hinder aid to Yemen and Gaza. CENTCOM has responded by targeting Houthi radars to stop their assaults on ships in the Red Sea.