Security staff on a cargo ship exchanged gunfire with attackers in a small boat off Yemen, forcing the assailants to withdraw, UKMTO said. The incident occurred in the Gulf of Aden and prompted warnings for vessels to transit with caution. While the Iran-backed Houthi movement has staged many attacks in the wider Red Sea since 2023, the Gulf of Aden is under Yemen's internationally recognised government and also experiences Somali-linked piracy. Authorities are monitoring and investigating the event.
Gunfire Off Yemen: Cargo Ship Repels Small-Boat Attack in Gulf of Aden, UKMTO Says
FILE PHOTO - A view of the beleaguered FSO Safer oil tanker in the Red Sea, off the coast of Yemen's rebel-held Rass Issa port in the western Hodeidah province. (is associated with: «Fire exchanged between small boat and cargo ship off Yemen's coast») Stringer/dpa
Security personnel aboard a cargo vessel exchanged gunfire with assailants in a small boat off the coast of Yemen, the UK's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Wednesday. According to UKMTO, six people in the small craft approached the freighter; following the brief firefight the attackers withdrew and the vessel continued on its route.
Incident Details
UKMTO said the exchange occurred further south in the Gulf of Aden. Mariners in the area were warned to transit with caution while authorities monitor the situation. No further details about injuries or damage were provided in the initial report.
Regional Context
The episode comes amid broader maritime tensions in the Red Sea and adjacent waters. The Iran-backed Houthi movement controls much of northern Yemen and a large part of the western Red Sea coastline, and since 2023 has mounted repeated attacks on ships it accuses of having links to Israel. The Houthis have also announced a blockade of sea routes to Israel in the Red Sea and carried out strikes on shipping and ports.
However, UKMTO noted this particular incident took place in the Gulf of Aden, a stretch of water adjacent to Yemen's southern coast that is held by Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. The Gulf of Aden is also prone to piracy and criminal activity, often involving networks based in Somalia, so investigators will consider multiple possible motives.
Advisory: Shipping companies and vessels transiting the region should remain vigilant, report suspicious approaches to UKMTO, and follow recommended safety and reporting procedures.
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