ALBAWABA- A cargo ship was damaged after coming under attack in the southern Red Sea off Yemen, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Tuesday, as Houthi attacks on commercial and Saudi-linked vessels continue to raise concerns over maritime security in the Bab al-Mandab region.
UKMTO said it received a report of an incident approximately 40 nautical miles southeast of Al-Makha, also known as Mocha, on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Initial reports indicated that the vessel was struck by an unknown projectile, causing damage. Further details about the ship, the nature of the attack and any casualties were not immediately available. UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to exercise caution.
The latest incident comes amid a sharp escalation in Houthi maritime operations along Yemen’s western coast. On August 11, a small commercial vessel was attacked in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, killing crew members. Yemeni authorities and international reports said six people were ultimately killed in the attack, including three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian, while several others were injured. Two rescuers were also killed when the vessel was attacked again after rescue teams arrived.
The attack was followed by further Houthi operations against shipping and maritime infrastructure. On Monday, the Houthis claimed they had attacked what they described as a Saudi military vessel and four escort ships with missiles off Mocha. Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the claim.
The group has also expanded its declared maritime campaign against Saudi-linked shipping. In July, the Houthis announced what they described as a maritime blockade targeting Saudi-bound vessels, saying the measure was in response to what they called a Saudi blockade of Yemen. They subsequently claimed attacks against Saudi oil tankers, including vessels transiting the Red Sea.
The escalation has coincided with renewed fighting between the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The United Nations has warned that Yemen is facing its most serious risk of a return to large-scale conflict since the 2022 truce, citing increased military activity and clashes in areas including Marib, Hadramawt and the western coast. The renewed fighting has also increased the risk that Yemen’s internal conflict could become more deeply connected to the wider regional confrontation.
Mocha has emerged as one of the main flashpoints. The port, located close to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, has been repeatedly targeted in recent Houthi attacks. Port authorities said on August 15 that more than 25 missiles had struck the facility over several days, killing seven people and causing an estimated $16 million in damage. The attacks forced the port to suspend commercial and maritime operations.
The attacks have severely disrupted a strategically important coastal hub used by anti-Houthi forces and commercial operators. The port’s closure has further complicated maritime activity along a waterway that connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and provides one of the world's key routes for shipping between Europe and Asia.
The latest reported attack also highlights the increasingly complex security environment facing commercial vessels in the region. The Houthis have sought to link their maritime operations to developments involving Saudi Arabia and the broader regional conflict, while anti-Houthi forces have intensified military operations along the western coast. The resulting cycle of attacks and counterattacks has increased risks for both commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure.
The situation is particularly significant because the Bab al-Mandab is a critical international shipping chokepoint. Any sustained disruption could force vessels to divert around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing voyage times, fuel costs and insurance premiums. The renewed attacks therefore threaten not only Yemen’s fragile security situation but also the reliability of an important global trade route.
The latest UKMTO report comes as maritime tensions are simultaneously escalating elsewhere in the region, including around the Strait of Hormuz, where commercial shipping has faced growing threats amid the wider confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Gulf states. The simultaneous pressure on the two strategic waterways has heightened concerns that regional conflicts could increasingly affect international maritime trade.
