Mon Nov 18 02:32:31 UTC 2024: ## Near Miss: Missile Strikes Near Commercial Ship in Bab el-Mandeb Strait
**DUBAI, November 18, 2024** – A commercial ship narrowly avoided damage in a suspected Houthi rebel missile attack late Sunday night in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The missile splashed down near the vessel approximately 30 miles west of the Yemeni port city of Mocha. While the ship and crew are safe and continuing to their destination, the incident highlights the escalating targeting of shipping in the crucial waterway.
The UKMTO confirmed the captain reported a missile impacting the water near the vessel. The Houthis have yet to claim responsibility, a pattern consistent with their previous attacks. Since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, the rebels have reportedly targeted over 90 merchant vessels, resulting in the seizure of one ship, the sinking of two, and the deaths of four sailors. While the Houthis claim to target vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K., many of the attacked ships have had little or no connection to the conflict.
This latest incident follows a November 11th attack on two U.S. Navy warships in the same strait, which was unsuccessful. The ongoing attacks underscore the significant risk to commercial shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital passage for an estimated $1 trillion worth of goods annually. The heightened tensions in the region, fueled by the Israel-Hamas war and the ongoing conflict in Yemen, continue to destabilize the area and threaten global trade.
First Piper 