According to Bloomberg, citing maritime security firm Ambrey and a US defense official, a bulk carrier flying under the Marshall Islands flag was attacked in the southern Red Sea on Tuesday. This incident occurred as Israeli forces advanced further into the south of Gazan city of Rafah. The culprits behind the maritime incident were likely Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.

The 750-foot-long Greek-owned vessel is currently taking on water and leaning to one side. The ship was targeted about 54 miles southwest of the Yemeni city of Hodeida, according to Ambrey. It was hit with three missiles. There were 80,000 tons of cargo on board, yet no information was given on what the ship was hauling. 

Vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg shows that Laax was approaching the Bab al-Mandab Strait during the attack. The ship is currently broadcasting “ARMGUARD ONBOARD” as its destination, possibly in an apparent attempt to prevent boarding. 

Bloomberg noted, “Yemen’s Houthis have not been named as the attackers but the group has carried out a series of assaults on ships transiting the waterway which is crucial to international shipping over the past few months in retaliation for Israel’s war in Gaza.”

Continuing attacks in the Red Sea are not entirely unexpected, as the Houthis often retaliate against IDF offensives in Gaza. The latest fighting in Rafah will likely trigger more attacks in the Red Sea and other critical maritime chokepoints across the Middle East.

Furthermore, the ongoing attacks on critical maritime chokepoints represent a colossal failure by the Biden administration’s Operation Prosperity Guardian. The administration is weak because it’s an election year, and it doesn’t want to push Brent crude prices above $90/bbl.