Maersk Container Ship Attacked in Gulf of Aden Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict

A US-flagged Maersk container ship was attacked in the eastern Gulf of Aden amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The incident, reported by the UK Maritime Trade Office, took place 180 nautical miles east of Nishtun in Yemen, with the ship and crew reported safe. Maersk confirmed the attack on the vessel Maersk Sentosa by a flying object, with no injuries or damage reported.

The Maersk Sentosa was en route from Algeciras, Spain to Salalah, Oman when the attack occurred, marking the first reported incident of its kind since June 28. Though outside the traditional threat area of the Iran-backed Houthis near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, other incidents involving unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned surface vessels have been reported by US and European navies in the region this month.

The Houthis have previously launched attacks on merchant ships in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, with over 80 attacks reported since mid-November. Despite the recent attack on the Maersk Sentosa, it is noted that most of the Houthis’ actions are concentrated near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with other vessels like the MSC Sarah V also targeted in the region with missiles claimed to be locally manufactured hypersonic missiles.

Source .