Houthis Target Ship in Red Sea

A ship in the Red Sea was targeted in a series of attacks on Tuesday, suspected to be carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels as part of their ongoing campaign linked to the Israel-Hamas war. The assaults have already disrupted the vital maritime trade route, which facilitates approximately $1 trillion in annual goods flow between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The first attack occurred about 70 miles south of the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeida, where an explosive detonated near the vessel, followed by a suspicious small boat and a second explosion. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the same ship experienced three attacks on the same day, with the third occurring approximately 110 miles northwest of Hodeida. A private security firm, Ambrey, corroborated the details, noting "close-proximity" explosions during the incidents. Although the Houthis have not officially claimed responsibility for these specific attacks, they have a history of targeting vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October. Since the beginning of the war, the Houthis have launched over 70 attacks on vessels, resulting in the sinking of two ships and the death of four sailors. While some missiles and drones have been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition, the rebels assert that their actions aim to pressure an end to Israel's military operations in Gaza. In retaliation for previous Houthi attacks, Israel has conducted airstrikes on Hodeida, further escalating tensions in the region.