Armed Attack on Cargo Ship Near Yemen's Coast Repelled by Security Team

A commercial cargo vessel came under an armed attack on Wednesday, located 88 nautical miles southwest of Balhaf port in Shabwa governorate, southeastern Yemen.

According to a report from the International Maritime Security Company, a small fast boat carrying six armed individuals approached the ship and opened fire.

The ship’s private security team responded with both warning and direct gunfire, forcing the speedboat to retreat immediately without boarding the vessel or causing significant damage.

No injuries were reported among the ship's crew, and the vessel continued on its route under heightened security measures, the statement indicated. The security company noted that the incident occurred in an area classified as "high risk" within international navigation routes in the Arabian Sea.

Since October 2023, the Houthi militia has launched attacks on commercial ships off Yemen’s coast, typically targeting vessels linked to Israel, the United States, or the United Kingdom.

Smaller attacks involving fast boats carrying limited armed groups are often associated with traditional piracy or armed smuggling activities exploiting the region’s security chaos.

Global shipping companies rely on armed private security teams equipped with light weapons to counter such threats, especially following a decline in major attacks involving missiles and drones.