Merchant Vessel Attacked Near Eritrea Coast Amid Red Sea Tensions

A merchant vessel was reportedly targeted with small arms fire in waters near Eritrea’s Massawa port in the Red Sea, adjacent to Yemen’s coast. British maritime security firm Ambrey disclosed the incident, which occurred approximately 92 nautical miles northeast of Massawa. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report of a small boat carrying armed individuals near a coastal freighter in the same vicinity, around 95 nautical miles northeast of Massawa. Authorities are currently investigating the situation, as no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Iran-aligned Houthi militants have been launching drone and missile strikes on ships they believe are linked to Israel or the United States in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab strait, and the Gulf of Aden since November. These attacks are seen as a show of support for Palestinians during the Gaza war. As a result, shipping companies have had to reroute cargo through longer and more costly routes around southern Africa. There are growing concerns that the conflict between Israel and Hamas could escalate and destabilize the Middle East further.

The ongoing attacks by Houthi militants in key shipping lanes have raised serious security concerns for vessels passing through the region. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with fears that the conflict could have broader implications for maritime trade and regional stability. Authorities are working to identify those responsible for the recent attack on the merchant vessel and to prevent further incidents that could disrupt vital shipping routes in the Red Sea.

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