The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reports that a vessel was attacked by an unmanned surface vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb strait and has since sunk. No details on the ship's identity, crew, or cargo have been released, and no group has claimed responsibility. The area is a strategic chokepoint where Iranian-backed Houthi forces have repeatedly targeted commercial shipping.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Wednesday that a merchant vessel was struck by an unmanned surface vessel (USV) while transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait, and has since sunk. The report did not specify the vessel's name, flag, crew status, or cargo. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Bab el-Mandeb strait, a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, has been a focal point for Houthi maritime attacks since the Israel-Hamas war expanded into the region. As The Zioneer has reported, Houthi forces have repeatedly targeted commercial vessels, initially with anti-ship missiles and drones, and more recently with unmanned surface vessels. The use of a USV in this incident marks a continuation of the Houthi campaign to disrupt shipping in the area.
The sinking of a vessel is a significant escalation in the maritime threat. Previous Houthi attacks have typically caused damage but not sunk ships. The identity of the attacker remains unconfirmed, but the location strongly suggests Houthi involvement, given their control of the Yemeni coastline along the strait. Further details on the vessel and any potential casualties are awaited.
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