Another Commercial Vessel Attacked in the Gulf of Aden

The British Army reported on Wednesday, January 17, about a new attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Aden, southeast of Aden. According to the British Army, on Wednesday, January 17, a vessel in the Gulf of Aden was "likely attacked using a bomb-carrying drone launched by Houthi rebels from Yemen." The British Maritime Trade Operations, which is the naval arm of the British Navy monitoring waterways in the Middle East, stated that the attack occurred due to the drone hitting the vessel approximately 110 kilometers southeast of Aden. The captain of the ship reported a "fire on board" and stated that the fire had been extinguished, and relevant officials are conducting investigations. The British Army has not yet mentioned the name of the vessel that was potentially attacked. Additionally, as of the time of this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Furthermore, 'Ambrey', a British maritime risk consultancy and management company, reported that a drone struck a bulk carrier flying the Marshall Islands flag, moving about 100 kilometers southeast of Aden. However, it is still unclear if this is the same attack mentioned in the British Army's report. News agencies and shipping organizations also reported on Tuesday, January 16, about a missile attack on another transport ship in the area. According to Reuters, citing three shipping sources, the bulk carrier 'Zografiya', flying the Maltese flag and empty, was targeted by a missile while heading north in the Red Sea and sustained minor damage. According to a Greek shipping source, the 'Zografiya', owned by Greece, was carrying 24 crew members and was en route from Vietnam to Israel without cargo. On Monday, January 15, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that Iran-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from areas under their control in Yemen, targeting a container ship flying the Marshall Islands flag and owned by the United States. According to CENTCOM, no casualties or significant damage were reported in that attack, and the ship continued on its course. CENTCOM also stated that around 2 PM local time, U.S. forces intercepted an anti-ship ballistic missile that had been fired towards commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea. The missile malfunctioned in flight and fell on land in Yemen, with no casualties or damage reported. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that Houthi rebels fired a cruise missile at an American destroyer in the Red Sea on Sunday, but an American fighter jet shot it down. This missile attack on Sunday was the first confirmed attack by the Houthis since the start of U.S.-led coalition attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen. According to the report, the missile was fired from near the port city of Hudaydah in Yemen, which is under Houthi control. CENTCOM stated, "A cruise missile was fired from Houthi-controlled areas supported by the Islamic Republic towards the USS Laboon. No casualties or damage have been reported." U.S. forces attacked a Houthi radar site in Yemen on Saturday. President Biden stated on Saturday that the U.S. sent a "private message" to Iran regarding the Iran-backed Houthis responsible for attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Before departing for the presidential retreat at Camp David, Biden told reporters, "We sent that [message] privately and are fully confident in our readiness." The U.S. President had previously stated that if the Houthis continue their destructive behavior in the Red Sea and threaten international shipping and global trade, "they can be sure that we will respond again." On Friday, January 12, Britain and the United States, with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, attacked dozens of positions used by the Houthis in various areas of Yemen. In these airstrikes, 28 Houthi positions were targeted, and over 60 targets were hit with cruise missiles, airstrikes by fighter jets, warships, and a submarine. The United States stated that the sites targeted included weapon depots, radars, and command centers, including in remote mountainous areas. The U.S. Navy warned American-flagged vessels to stay away from areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden for 72 hours following the initial airstrikes. The British Foreign Secretary warned the Houthis in Yemen on Saturday, January 13, that if they threaten free shipping in the Red Sea, London will attack the group's targets in that country. David Cameron emphasized in a note published in the British newspaper 'The Daily Telegraph' that London will always defend freedom of navigation and added that they will be prepared to support their words with action. The British Foreign Secretary warned about the consequences of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, stating that this issue would lead to rising prices in Britain and globally. A review of reactions to U.S. and British attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen: The British Maritime Security Organization stated that the Houthis mistakenly targeted a tanker carrying Russian oil. The Houthis claim that 11 militants were killed and injured in U.S. and British attacks. The U.S. Air Force targeted 60 military objectives of the Houthis in Yemen. The CENTCOM commander stated that the Houthis and their Iranian supporters are responsible for illegal attacks in the region. The Associated Press reported that concerns about the onset of a "full-scale war" in the region have increased. A global container shipping giant warned its customers about a potential "major disruption."