A cargo ship was attacked in the Red Sea

A cargo ship reported an attack on Sunday in the Red Sea, 56 kilometers off the coast of the port city of Al-Hudaydah, according to the British agency UKMTO.

The ship sent a distress signal, stating that it was attacked by 'unknown armed assailants'. Although the area is controlled by Houthi rebels, it has not been confirmed that they are responsible for the attack. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have intensified attacks on ships in 2023 in response to the conflicts in Gaza.

The U.S. State Department has designated the Houthi group as a terrorist organization. UKMTO has advised ships to transit with caution and to report suspicious activities. The Red Sea is an essential trade route, and recent attacks are affecting oil transport, in the context of regional tensions. Saudi Arabia has redirected oil flows through the East-West pipeline, and exports have significantly increased following the signing of a peace memorandum between the U.S. and Iran.