Two separate incidents involving unmanned aircraft and missile explosions were reported off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea on Tuesday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations authority issued advisories detailing the occurrences.
In the first incident, two unmanned aircraft were observed, followed by two explosions approximately 5 nautical miles from a vessel located 50 nautical miles west of Hodeidah, Yemen’s west coast. In a seemingly unrelated incident, another explosion was heard, and missiles were seen approximately 4 nautical miles from a vessel situated 60 nautical miles from Hodeidah. Subsequently, another explosion occurred 0.5 nautical miles from the same vessel. The specific identity of the vessel or vessels involved, along with cargo details and their origin or destination, was not disclosed.
Fortunately, in both incidents, the vessels and their crews were reported to be safe. However, the British authority did not specify the source of the reported drones or missiles, and as of now, there has been no claim of responsibility for these incidents.
These reported events come on the heels of the United States’ announcement of a multinational maritime security initiative in the Red Sea, responding to previous attacks on vessels by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Iran-backed Houthi militia has been actively targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea since October. The group claims its actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, besieged by Israel.
The Houthis have explicitly stated their intention to target Israeli-linked vessels and those heading to Israel, issuing warnings to shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports. Consequently, several shipping lines have altered their operations, choosing longer routes around Africa instead of the Red Sea waterway due to heightened security concerns.
The Houthi rebels, who control significant territories in Yemen after years of conflict, have been employing drones and missiles to target various locations, including southern Israel. They have vowed to continue their attacks until there is a resolution in Gaza and have warned of potential retaliatory actions against U.S. warships if the militia group itself becomes a target.
The situation underscores the complex geopolitical landscape in the region, with ongoing conflicts, maritime security challenges, and the broader implications of regional actors asserting their influence through asymmetric means. The international community remains vigilant as tensions persist, emphasizing the need for diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of these conflicts and mitigate the risk of further escalations.
