Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels launched a suspected attack on a ship off the coast of Hodeida in the Red Sea, coinciding with intensified missile strikes targeting Israel, according to maritime and security officials. The assault involved an “unknown projectile” landing near a vessel amid significant electronic interference, as reported by the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre.

The ship and its crew were unharmed, with private security firms Ambrey and EOS Risk Group confirming the incident, noting the Houthis’ recent surge in missile attacks on Israel using cluster munitions, which are harder to intercept.

The Red Sea attack follows an Israeli strike last week that killed the Houthis’ prime minister and several officials, escalating tensions as Israel prepares for a new ground offensive in its ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza. Martin Kelly of EOS Risk Group described the Houthis’ actions as a “clear escalation,” shifting from sporadic to multiple daily missile launches.

While the Houthis have not immediately claimed responsibility for the ship attack, their pattern of delayed acknowledgments is well-documented. Since November 2023, the rebels have targeted over 100 vessels with missiles and drones, sinking four ships and killing at least eight mariners, with two vessels sunk in July 2025 alone.

The Houthis’ campaign, briefly paused during a ceasefire, resumed after a week-long U.S.-led airstrike campaign ordered by President Donald Trump, followed by a declared truce. The latest attacks occur amid fragile ceasefire talks in the Israel-Hamas conflict and uncertainties surrounding U.S.-Iran negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program, further complicated by recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian atomic sites.

The Houthis’ aggressive actions in the Red Sea and against Israel underscore the volatile regional dynamics threatening maritime security and broader Middle Eastern stability.

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