Spate of attacks continue in the Red Sea region

A series of attacks continued in the Red Sea region, with the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reporting a new incident 33 nautical miles (nm) east of Assab, Eritrea last evening.

PHOTO: The coast of Red Sea, Bab El Mande in Hodeida, Yemen. Getty Images

The UK maritime agency received reports of up to three explosions 1-5 nm near a merchant vessel passing in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait east of Assab, Eritrea last evening. The crew and vessel have been reported to be safe at the moment.

The incident occurred at 18.50 GMT yesterday, UKMTO said.

The authorities are currently investigating the incident. Vessels passing through the region have been advised to "transit with caution and report any suspicious activity", UKMTO added. Further details about the incident are still awaited.

The incident comes shortly after Maersk’s Singapore-flagged ship Maersk Hangzhou was attacked by the Houthis over the weekend. The attack prompted Maersk to announce a 48-hour halt on all transit through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and eventually suspend all transits through the region until further notice.

Over the past few weeks, the Houthi militia of Yemen have increased their attacks on merchant ships passing through the Red Sea in response to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

These attacks have led to the formation of a multinational task force by the US, Operation Prosperity Guardian, aimed at countering the Houthi threat and alleviating the crisis. However, shipping companies continue to consider the area risky and are diverting their vessels on longer voyages around the southern tip of Africa.

This longer journey has resulted in increased costs for commercial shipping and has had a significant impact on global trade.

By Tuhin Roy

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