Aden (South24 Center)

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The Red Sea witnessed a security incident on Thursday (July 24) when Yemeni government-aligned forces intercepted a Comoros-flagged livestock vessel near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, following reports that it had been approached by a small boat and gunfire was heard.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued an alert about suspicious activity in the Red Sea after receiving a report from the ship's captain about being approached and confronted by a single small boat, with gunfire reportedly heard.

According to the official update, the ship was redirected toward Yemeni territorial waters, where military sources later confirmed its temporary detention by the Yemeni Coast Guard for investigation. The identity of those who fired the shots remains unknown as inquiries continue.

UKMTO advised vessels transiting the area to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.

Yemeni media sources, including Al-Jumhuriya channel, confirmed that the ship was forced toward Yemeni waters and temporarily held by a Yemeni naval patrol affiliated with the Coast Guard before being released after verifying its legal and navigational status.

British maritime security company Ambrey stated that the ship was given instructions to proceed to Mocha port, though the source of these instructions remains unclear. Sources suggested this may be related to heightened security measures amid increased smuggling operations and maritime attacks in the region.

This incident follows an unprecedented escalation in attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces against commercial vessels in the Red Sea over the past two weeks.

On July 6, the Liberian-flagged, Greek-managed ship ’Magic Seas‘ was attacked by missiles and subsequently sank while sailing from China to Turkey carrying fertilizers and steel.

On July 7-8, the Liberian-flagged ’Eternity C‘ ship was attacked after it had delivered humanitarian aid in Somalia on behalf of the World Food Programme, and was travelling to Saudi Arabia, according to Human Rights Watch. The attack resulted in the ship's sinking, the death of four crew members, while ten others reportedly remain in Houthi custody, according to U.S. reports.

On July 23, Human Rights Watch issued a report describing these attacks as "war crimes" under international humanitarian law, noting that neither ship was connected to the Gaza conflict or the Israeli military, and neither carried military cargo or followed combat routes.

In a related development, on July 16, Yemeni National Resistance naval forces led by Brigadier General Tariq Mohammed Abdullah Saleh announced the seizure of a ship carrying a large shipment of advanced weapons from Iran destined for the Houthis.

Brigadier Saleh stated that the operation followed precise tracking of the vessel, and that the seized items included naval and aerial missile systems, radars, drones, eavesdropping devices, anti-tank weapons, sniper rifles, and large quantities of ammunition. No official comment was issued by the Houthis or Iran regarding this operation.

On July 24, the Yemeni National Resistance held a follow-up press conference in the coastal city of Mocha, attended by 50 regional and international media outlets. Spokesperson Brigadier General Sadeq Dowaid provided further technical details on the seized shipment originally announced on July 16, confirming that the operation took place on June 27 following precise intelligence coordination between the naval and intelligence units.

Dowaid stated that the weapons were concealed inside civilian electrical equipment and included components for at least 12 types of advanced missiles—among them naval, surface-to-surface, and air-defense systems—as well as drones, thermal and laser surveillance tools, anti-tank weapons, and guided munitions. He noted that initial investigations indicated this was the 13th such shipment linked to a smuggling network allegedly run by a Houthi commander named Mohammed Ahmed Al-Talbi. Dowaid also warned of intelligence suggesting that the Houthis are seeking to develop biological weapons in cooperation with Iran, calling it a potential regional and international threat.

In an international development reflecting growing concern over continued Houthi threats to Red Sea navigation, the Greek government announced on Thursday the deployment of a salvage vessel ’Giant‘ to the region to provide support in maritime emergencies and protect Greek ships and sailors.

The Ministry of Maritime Transport stated the vessel is equipped with four 16,000-horsepower engines and a specialized crew of 14 sailors. It can conduct search and rescue operations, extinguish maritime fires, and accommodate more than 40 people on board.

This decision follows the attacks on the two Greek-owned ships ’Magic Seas‘ and ’Eternity C’, which are among the deadliest incidents in the series of Houthi maritime attacks since October 2023.