Following a lull in attacks due to a US-led airstrike campaign, reports emerged of a possible explosion near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Wednesday. The strategic strait between Djibouti, Eritrea, and Yemen connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden in the Indian Ocean, serving as a crucial waterway for global trade and aid. The incident, which occurred approximately 130km southeast of Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden, has prompted an investigation by authorities after the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) reported an explosion observed from a nearby merchant vessel. While the Houthis, known for carrying out dozens of attacks on shipping in the region, have not yet claimed responsibility for this particular incident, suspicion remains cast upon the group. The Houthis have been engaged in an ongoing battle with Israel over the conflict in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 34,000 Palestinians, primarily civilians. Despite the ships targeted by the Houthis often having minimal or no direct ties to Israel, the US, or other nations involved in the conflict, the Houthis have targeted ships carrying humanitarian aid, raising concerns about the group’s tactics. The Houthis, part of the Zaydi Shia minority sect, gained prominence after seizing Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, in late 2014. The Saudi-led coalition has been locked in a stalemate with the Houthis since 2015, further complicating the conflict in Yemen.
Suspected Houthi Attack Near Bab el-Mandeb Strait Raises Concerns
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