The British Navy reported an attempted attack on a vessel off the coast of Yemen, as reported by TASS. The ministry later confirmed that the ship sustained no damage.
Earlier, the Ansarullah movement, also known as the Houthis, held control in northern Yemen and claimed responsibility for an attack on an American ship in the Red Sea. According to Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sariya, the strike was executed with precision. The group has previously warned of targeting Israeli-bound vessels and urged other nations to withdraw crews and avoid approaching at sea. Several shipping firms have already halted Red Sea crossings.
The Houthis stated that their operations were aimed at supporting Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and did not obstruct freedom of navigation in the region. Nevertheless, Arab and Muslim leaders cautioned the United States that backing Israel in Gaza could widen the conflict in the Middle East. Following airstrikes by the US and UK on Yemen, the Houthis declared their ships’ military targets.
Reports of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have coincided with increased demand for goods to move to Europe via the Russian Federation. Michael Aldwell, head of maritime logistics at Kuehne & Nagel, noted greater demand for rail transport from Asia to Europe in the current climate.
There were also moves by the United States and the United Kingdom to intensify efforts against the Houthis.