Ship comes under gunfire, grenade attack in Red Sea off coast of Yemen

A ship came under attack Sunday while sailing through the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen, British authorities said, leading to a shootout between the apparent attackers and armed security aboard the vessel.

It wasn’t immediately clear who was responsible for the assault. But Iran-backed Houthi rebels who control much of Yemen have repeatedly targeted commercial ships in and around the Red Sea over the past 18 months.

The group has largely ceased its attacks in recent months, though it’s unclear what other actors in the region would have the capability or motivation for such an operation.

In a statement on social media, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Center said the attack took place about 50 miles south of the Yemeni port city of Al Hudaydah.

“The vessel has been engaged by multiple small vessels who have opened fire with small arms and self propelled grenades,” the U.K. organization said in its statement. “Armed Security Team have returned fire and situation is ongoing. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”

Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors.

The Trump administration in March launched a major offensive against the Houthis and carried out dozens of airstrikes against the rebel group’s positions in Yemen. President Trump announced a ceasefire between the two sides in May, and the Houthis have not attacked any commercial or military ships in the region since then.