Commercial Ship Not Under Command After Likely Houthi Red Sea Strike

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) office has reported that a commercial ship in the Red Sea has come under attack and is currently not under command (i.e. has lost the ability to sail or steer) after being hit with three projectiles. The vessel initially came under attack from two small craft with 3-5 assailants aboard, with the ship coming under small arms fire before being struck by the projectiles. No casualties are reported.

• Broad speculation is that the attack was carried out by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, in what would mark the first attack in over a week.
• While the region still waits and watches for any Iranian response to the killing of Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month, the lack of any direct escalatory attack means that market attention has turned away from Middle East tensions somewhat.
• Nevertheless, the Houthi campaign against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden continues, with the group claiming the attacks will continue as long as the war in Gaza is pursued. Much shipping in the region has adopted the 'new normal' of travelling via the Cape of Good Hope, adding time and cost to journeys.