### Houthi Rebels Target Commercial Shipping in the Red Sea Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

In a recent surge of hostilities, the Red Sea became a battleground for commercial vessels as drone and missile attacks disrupted maritime activities. On Tuesday, an explosive-laden drone struck one ship, and a missile hit another, according to reports from the British military and private security firms. This marked the latest in a series of suspected assaults by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The first attack occurred approximately 110 kilometers off the coast of Hodeida, where a ship's captain reported seeing four "splashes" in the water, likely indicating missed missile or drone strikes. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) later confirmed that the vessel sustained damage from a drone boat, which punctured one of its ballast tanks — a critical component for maintaining a ship's buoyancy.

Private security firm Ambrey corroborated that the attack involved a drone boat. The targeted ship was en route to the Suez Canal, carrying armed private security personnel. In a separate incident, another northbound vessel to the Suez Canal was attacked by a missile, Ambrey reported.

Though the Houthi rebels did not immediately claim responsibility for these assaults, their military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, indicated in a prerecorded video that drones had been launched targeting Israel. It is important to note that Israel has not confirmed these specific attacks amidst its ongoing confrontation with Hezbollah.

The Red Sea has increasingly become hazardous for maritime traffic as the Houthis intensify their campaign. Since the war in Gaza began in October, Houthis have reportedly targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with drones and missiles, seizing one ship, sinking two, and causing the deaths of four sailors. A U.S.-led coalition has managed to intercept several of these attacks, ensuring that many missiles and drones failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels.

On Sept. 2, the last incident involved a Houthi attack on a merchant ship. Additionally, the rebels recently targeted U.S. warships, firing over a half dozen ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles, along with two drones, at three American vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. A U.S. official confirmed all the threats were successfully intercepted by Navy destroyers.

Amidst these maritime threats, the Houthis also continue to launch missiles towards Israel, provoking Israeli retaliatory airstrikes on Hodeida over the weekend. As the regional conflict intensifies, commercial shipping through the Red Sea remains at high risk from these aggressive tactics.