Houthi Rebels Escalate Attacks: Red Sea Ship Incident

Dubai, Sep 4 (AP) A ship in the Red Sea was reportedly targeted by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday, according to officials, marking an escalation as the militants increase their missile attacks on Israel.

The incident occurred off the coast of Hodeida, following an Israeli strike the previous week that killed the Houthis' prime minister and other officials. The Houthis have employed cluster munitions in their missile attacks on Israel, which contain multiple smaller explosives that complicate interception efforts. This raises the risk of successful strikes as Israel gears up for a renewed ground offensive in its ongoing conflict with Hamas, which has substantially impacted the Gaza Strip.

The assault on Thursday involved an “unknown projectile” landing near a vessel amid intense electronic interference, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre of the British military. Despite this, the ship and its crew were reported safe after the attack.

Private maritime security firms Ambrey and EOS Risk Group also confirmed the apparent attack. EOS Risk Group’s Martin Kelly noted that the frequency of these assaults has increased, shifting from sporadic events to multiple daily attempts.

While the Houthis have not immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, it is not unusual for them to delay acknowledgment of their operations. They have targeted at least one other ship in recent days as well.

Between November 2023 and December 2024, the Houthis have attacked over 100 ships using missiles and drones amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. So far, their campaign has resulted in the sinking of four vessels and the death of at least eight mariners.

The Iranian-backed Houthis paused their attacks during a brief ceasefire period in the conflict but later became the focus of a vigorous week-long airstrike campaign initiated by US President Donald Trump, who subsequently announced a ceasefire agreement with the rebels. In July, the Houthis sank two vessels, resulting in the deaths of at least four crew members, with more individuals believed to be held captive.

The timing of the Houthis' recent attacks coincides with ongoing discussions about a new potential ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Meanwhile, the future of US-Iran negotiations concerning Tehran's nuclear program remains uncertain after Israel's 12-day war against Iran, during which the US bombed three of Iran's nuclear sites.

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