A likely missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels set a ship ablaze in the Gulf of Aden on Monday. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Local Yemeni media reported a possible ballistic missile launch from territory controlled by the Iran-backed terror group.
Shortly after, a ship in the Gulf of Aden some 235 kilometers (150 miles) off the coast of Aden reported seeing “a splash and smoke” in the distance, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported.
The UKMTO described the incident as an attack and urged ships in the area to exercise caution, as did the private security firm Ambrey.
Shortly after, the UKMTO said “a vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile.” It added: “The vessel is reported to be on fire.” Ambrey later acknowledged the strike as well, which mirrored an attack on September 23 that missed a ship.
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The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack. However, it can take hours or even days before the rebels claim their assaults.
UKMTO WARNING 033-25 WARNING ATTACK update 001 29 SEP 25https://t.co/0ZfnDYMtPM#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/NWDw2MKSlh
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) September 29, 2025
The Houthis — whose slogan calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the Jews” — control some of Yemen, including its capital Sanaa, and are at war with the country’s internationally recognized government.
They have fired some 130 missiles and more than 150 explosive-laden drones at Israel since the Hamas terror group’s October 7, 2023, attack set off the war in Gaza. Israel has responded with waves of airstrikes in Yemen, including one that killed the Houthis’ prime minister and other top officials.
Alongside the attacks on Israel, the Houthis have attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea, through which $1 trillion of goods usually passes a year.
Though the Houthis originally claimed to only target ships with ties to Israel, monitors said that was not the case. In July, the Houthis said they would attack all vessels that do business with Israel, as they renewed their attacks, sinking two ships.
In May, the US announced a surprise deal with the Houthis in which it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks on US vessels. The deal did not stop attacks on Israel.
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