Missile Attack Sparks Fire on Cargo Ship in Gulf of Aden

A missile attack targeted a vessel in the Gulf of Aden, causing a fire on board, according to two maritime agencies. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that a vessel was attacked by two missiles, resulting in a fire on board, and coalition forces are responding. Security firm Ambrey also reported a fire aboard a Palau-flagged, British-owned general cargo ship following two missile strikes southeast of Yemen’s Aden. The ship appeared to be headed from Map Ta Phut, Thailand, and was heading in the direction of the Red Sea.

There was no immediate claim for the attack, but it follows a series of strikes on commercial vessels by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The Houthis say the attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war. The strikes have prompted some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, which normally carries about 12 percent of global maritime trade. The UN Conference on Trade and Development warned late last month that the volume of commercial traffic passing through the Suez Canal had fallen more than 40 percent in the previous two months.

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