Cargo Ship Reports Near Miss in Attack Off Aden Coast

On September 23, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed an attack on a vessel around 120 nautical miles east of Aden.

Maritime security firm Vanguard reported that the Netherlands-flagged general cargo ship Minervagracht logged the incident at 0320 hours local time, when a projectile struck the water roughly two nautical miles from the vessel. Vanguard added that the ship has no known links to Israel, suggesting it was unlikely to have been the intended target.

According to the captain’s report to UKMTO, a splash and explosion were observed nearby, though no injuries or damage occurred. The vessel has since proceeded safely toward its next destination.

While no group has yet claimed responsibility, the incident follows months of attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthis have previously launched missiles and drones against Israel and shipping in the Red Sea, framing the assaults as support for Palestinians during the Gaza conflict.