A British merchant vessel faced an attack in the Red Sea, roughly 40 nautical miles south of Al-Mukha, a port city in Yemen. The incident was shared on social media platform X by United Kingdom Merchant Navy Operations, which monitored and reported the event for seafarers operating in the region. The ship’s captain later confirmed that two missiles were launched at the vessel during the ongoing tensions near Yemen’s western approaches. Fortunately, none of the crew sustained injuries, and the ship continued its course toward the nearest port after the incident occurred. This sequence highlights the persistent risk in the area and the importance of vigilance for crews navigating near Yemen’s coastlines. (Source attribution: UKMTO)
UKMTO then issued a formal advisory urging crews on other vessels to exercise heightened caution when navigating off Yemen’s coast. The advisory also called for timely reporting of any suspicious activity to maritime authorities so swift action could be taken to protect crews and assets in the region. The guidance underscores the critical need for real-time reporting and adherence to best practices in ship security, especially in waters where tensions can escalate rapidly. (Source attribution: UKMTO)
In the broader regional context, the ongoing escalation of hostilities between the Palestinian Hamas movement and Israel has reverberated across the Red Sea corridor. Yemen’s Houthi movement, Ansar Allah, declared its intent to strike Israeli territory and to block ships affiliated with Israel from transiting Red Sea routes and the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Officials indicated that the Gaza Strip’s military operations were unlikely to wrap up quickly, suggesting a continued threat to maritime traffic moving through these strategic chokepoints. (Contextual update: regional security dynamics)
On 11 February, the United States military announced that additional strikes would be carried out in Yemen with the aim of neutralizing two surface drones and three cruise missiles attributed to Houthi forces. The pledge reflected ongoing efforts to degrade the Houthis’ offensive capabilities and to reduce the risk to international shipping transiting the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, and adjacent sea lanes. The development underscores how external powers are intensifying their involvement in a theater that directly affects global trade flows and regional security. (Source attribution: US Defense Department press releases)
Separately, a former Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations stated that Tehran was not supplying weapons to the Houthis, a clarification aimed at addressing accusations amid a complex web of regional alliances and proxy engagements. The assertion comes as international observers seek to understand the supply chains and influence mechanisms that influence the Houthis’ operational readiness and their capacity to threaten commercial navigation. (Contextual attribution: Iranian diplomat statements)