Commercial ship ‘not under command’ after suspected Houthi attack in Red Sea

A commercial ship in the Red Sea has been left "not under command" following a suspected attack by Yemen's Houthis, according to the British military, likely indicating a total power loss.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said the attack involved men on small boats firing small arms some 140km west of the Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah.

The ship was later "struck by two unidentified projectiles before being hit by a third", according to the UKMTO.

“The vessel reports being not under command,” the UKMTO said, adding: “No casualties reported.”

While the Houthis have not claimed responsibility, they have repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea since last year.

The Houthi movement, officially known as Ansar Allah, began targeting any ship it suspected of being linked to Israel in October 2023, vowing to continue until Israel ends its war on Gaza.

Some ships with no connection to Israel have also been targeted in recent months.

The movement, which controls Sanaa and most of northern and western Yemen, has also launched drone attacks towards Israel.

In July, Israel carried out air strikes on Hodeidah after a Houthi drone hit central Tel Aviv, killing one person.