Commercial Ship Attacked by Multiple Small Boats in Red Sea Off Yemen

A commercial vessel named Magic Seas was attacked in the Red Sea, approximately 51 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's port of Hodeidah, by multiple small boats using gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades. The ship's armed security team returned fire, and the incident caused damage to the vessel's cargo and a fire onboard, though no crew injuries were reported. British maritime agencies and security firms, including the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and Ambrey, have confirmed the ongoing situation, with no immediate claim of responsibility. The attack occurs amid heightened regional tensions linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Israel-Iran issues, and recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants, previously responsible for over 100 attacks on shipping since late 2023, have threatened to target U.S. ships in the Red Sea if Washington involves itself in Israeli actions against Iran, despite a recent agreement with the U.S. to halt hostilities affecting shipping lanes. This assault marks a resumption of hostilities after a period of relative calm in the Red Sea maritime security environment.