A container ship was fired upon in the Gulf of Aden on Monday morning after a small skiff approached the vessel south of Yemen, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The incident took place about 14 nautical miles south of Yemen at 7:35 AM UTC. UKMTO said the crew of the skiff opened fire on the container ship and attempted to board it.
Authorities are investigating the incident.
The case points to continued maritime security risk in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Red Sea region, despite the putative ceasefire deal announced between the US and Iran on Sunday night.
Yemen’s Houthi movement has been behind most attacks on commercial shipping around Yemen since late 2022 and is backed by Iran. However, there is no confirmed link between the latest attack and the Houthis.
The incident may also have been piracy-related and separate from the Houthis or the wider regional geopolitical situation.
Attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have led most major shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea and Suez Canal in recent years, increasing bunker demand as vessels take longer routes around Africa.
