Houthi Rebels Renew Attacks on Red Sea Shipping Amid Regional Tensions

Yemen's Houthi rebels reportedly attacked at least one ship in the Red Sea, marking their first commercial shipping assault in weeks. This move coincides with escalating regional tensions following the Israel-Hamas war. While rebels claim to target ships connected to Israel, many attacked vessels have no conflict ties.

Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a suspected attack on Tuesday, targeting at least one ship in the Red Sea. This marks their first assault on commercial shipping in several weeks, amid rising regional tensions following the Israel-Hamas war.

The attack happened roughly 70 miles off the port city of Hodeida, which has become a flashpoint for naval conflicts. British military officials reported 'splashes' near a vessel, indicating possible missile or drone strikes.

While the Houthis have not immediately claimed the attack, they have a history of targeting vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. The rebels often take hours or days to acknowledge their assaults, leaving commercial shipping operators on high alert.

(With inputs from agencies.)