SANAA: An explosion near a vessel off the coast of Yemen has been reported, two maritime security agencies said Thursday, marking the latest incident in a series of disruptions to global shipping. The blast east of Yemen’s Aden came after the United States said on Thursday it had seized an Iranian weapons shipment in January destined for Yemen’s Houthis, who have targeted commercial vessels on the key shipping route through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea for months.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that a ship encountered “an explosion in close proximity to the vessel” east of Yemen’s Aden, with the vessel proceeding to its next port of call. Security firm Ambrey confirmed that a “bulk carrier was targeted by an explosive projectile” in the same area, causing minor damage due to shrapnel impact.
“The projectile exploded… off the vessel but did not strike the vessel,” Ambrey said, adding that the attack only caused “minor damage due to shrapnel impacting a diesel generator pipe, which led to a diesel leak.”
The Houthis have been conducting attacks on shipping since November, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid the conflict in Gaza. These attacks have disrupted global maritime trade, prompting some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea.
The US has accused Iran of supporting Houthi attacks by providing weapons and tactical intelligence, further complicating the situation. CENTCOM announced the seizure of an Iranian weapons shipment bound for Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen in January, stating it contained missile components and explosives.
US Strikes Against Yemen’s Houthis
In response to Houthi threats, the US military conducted self-defense strikes against mobile anti-ship cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi denounced the US strikes, warning against involvement in the conflict, particularly in light of recent EU support for a naval mission to protect ships from attacks.
On Thursday, the US military said it had struck more drones and missiles that had been ready to be launched against ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthi-run Saba news agency reported several strikes on the Red Sea coastal province of Hodeida. In an earlier statement on Wednesday, CENTCOM said an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched from Houthi areas into the Gulf of Aden.
In a speech on Thursday, the leader of the Yemeni rebels, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, accused the United States of launching around 40 strikes this week. He said such retaliatory attacks would fail to deter his forces from targeting vessels if a ceasefire in Gaza is not reached.
He also warned the European Union (EU) against being drawn into the confrontation after member states last month gave initial backing to a naval mission to protect ships from attacks. “European countries should not listen to the Americans or the British, and should not involve themselves in matters that do not concern them or affect them,” the Houthi leader said.
