Cargo Ship Reports Attack Off Yemen, Adding To Red Sea Risks

By Paul Burkhardt

Jul 5, 2026 (Bloomberg) –A cargo vessel in the Red Sea reported that it came under attack from armed assailants on Sunday, the latest instance of security risks for ships transiting the Middle East region.

The incident occurred 30 nautical miles (56 km) southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, the UK Maritime Trade Operations, which is a part of the Navy, said in a notice, without identifying the vessel. It is investigating the attack and advised vessels to transit with caution.

The Red Sea has become a key route for Saudi oil exports since the war in Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz. Still, the Houthis, an Iranian-backed militant group that controls much of Yemen, in June declared a ban on Israeli ships passing through the waterway. 

And while the Strait of Hormuz has seen increased traffic following an agreement between the US and Iran aimed at ending the war, the number of vessels sailing through the waterway along the Omani coast dropped on Sunday, a day after several exiting along that route made sharp reversals. 

© 2026 Bloomberg L.P.

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