Recent updates from the Royal Navy’s Merchant Navy Operations Office, UKMTO, confirm that three explosions occurred during an incident involving a vessel under attack in the Red Sea. The events took place in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait region, approximately 33 nautical miles west of Assab, Eritrea. This information comes from UKMTO and has prompted ongoing safety assessments by maritime authorities. The vessel and its crew reportedly remained unharmed and are currently safe, with authorities launching a formal investigation to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the incident.
British maritime security firm Ambrey has also reported on the event. According to Ambrey, following the explosions, the vessel requested assistance from a warship within the US-led coalition that provides security in the Red Sea corridor. Ambrey attributes the cause of the explosions to rockets fired from the Taiz region of Yemen, a claim that underscores the broader security challenges facing shipping in this corridor.
The security situation in the Red Sea has been affected by the broader regional conflict between Palestine and Israel. Yemeni groups, including the Houthis, have warned they will target Israeli territory and restrict the passage of ships destined for Israeli ports through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Since early November 2023, a number of commercial and military vessels have reported incidents connected to these tensions, highlighting the persistent risk to maritime traffic in the area.
In response to the evolving threat landscape, the United States announced the formation of an international coalition dedicated to safeguarding navigation rights and protecting ships traveling through the Red Sea. The coalition is intended to include multiple partners, with participation anticipated from Bahrain, England, Spain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and France. This collaborative effort aims to deter attacks on shipping lanes and to support safe passage through this critical maritime corridor.
Earlier in the timeline, reports indicated that the Yemeni Houthi faction had fired ballistic missiles at a U.S. barge operating in the southern Red Sea, and subsequent actions saw a carrier strike group entering the Strait of Aden in response to Houthi activity. These events underscore a pattern of escalating maritime risk in the region, prompting international actors to coordinate protective measures and to emphasize the importance of open and secure sea lanes for commercial and military vessels alike.