Armed forces attack in the Red Sea.....

Armed forces attack in the Red Sea.....

📰 Commercial Ship Attacked in the Red Sea — Explosion and Thick Smoke Captured in Photo

📍 Red Sea, Off the Coast of Yemen | July 6, 2025

A commercial vessel came under armed attack once again in the volatile waters of the Red Sea. On Sunday, unidentified gunmen launched rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire from multiple small boats near Yemen’s Hodeidah coast, southwest of the key port city.

A dramatic image from the scene shows a massive explosion on the side of the ship, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky — likely caused by a rocket or missile strike.

According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), eight small boats (known as skiffs) approached the vessel and opened fire using light weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. The onboard armed security team returned fire. The attack took place approximately 51 nautical miles (about 94 km) southwest of Hodeidah.

Hodeidah remains under the control of Iran-backed Houthi rebels, but no group has claimed responsibility for this latest assault.

Since late 2023, following the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthis have been targeting commercial vessels linked to Israel or its allies in both the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. In response to US-UK airstrikes in January 2024, the group expanded its list of targets to include Western ships.

Security experts warn that this is part of a broader threat to global maritime trade, with many shipping companies now avoiding the Red Sea route altogether, instead opting for longer voyages around southern Africa.