Dubai: A ship travelling through the Red Sea caught fire on Sunday after it reportedly came under attack by armed assailants using firearms and rocket-propelled grenades, according to authorities.

Initial reports suggested that the unidentified vessel was later struck by suspected bomb-laden boats, which triggered a fire on board.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident. However, given past patterns, suspicion has turned toward Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have a history of launching attacks on ships in the Red Sea and possess weaponised drone boats.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a branch of the British military, said that the security team aboard the vessel returned fire during the assault and confirmed that the “situation is ongoing.” The attack reportedly took place approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Hodeida, a Yemeni port city under Houthi control.

“Authorities are investigating,” UKMTO said in a statement.

Later updates confirmed the ship was ablaze after being “struck by unknown projectiles.”

Ambrey, a private maritime security company, released an alert stating that the vessel had come under attack from eight small boats while heading north through the Red Sea. According to Ambrey, the assault was still ongoing at the time of the report.

Further reports from Ambrey indicated that drone boats—possibly rigged with explosives—also targeted the ship, marking what could be a significant escalation. “Two drone boats struck the ship, while another two were destroyed by the armed guards on board,” the firm noted.

The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, based in the region, deferred all inquiries to Central Command. Central Command acknowledged awareness of the event but did not provide further details.

Yemen’s Houthi faction has previously launched both missile and drone strikes on commercial and military vessels, describing these operations as efforts to halt Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza.

Al-Masirah, the Houthi-run satellite TV channel, confirmed an incident had taken place but did not elaborate, as it was airing a speech by the group’s elusive leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi. Ambrey noted that the targeted vessel matched “the established Houthi target profile,” though it did not clarify further.

Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis were responsible for over 100 attacks on commercial ships using drones and missiles, resulting in the sinking of two vessels and the deaths of four sailors. This has significantly disrupted one of the world’s busiest trade routes, through which around $1 trillion worth of goods typically passes each year.

While the rebels declared a temporary halt in attacks earlier this year, the ceasefire ended following a U.S.-led military campaign against Houthi positions in March. Though there had been no known attacks on ships since then, the Houthis have continued launching missiles toward Israel. On Sunday, the group claimed it fired a missile at Israel, which was reportedly intercepted by Israeli forces.

Meanwhile, Yemen remains locked in a prolonged civil war between the Houthis and the internationally recognised government backed by a Saudi-led coalition. The Yemeni Coast Guard, loyal to the exiled government, has previously engaged in clashes in the Red Sea, although they are not known to have used drone boats.

Somali pirates also operate in the region, but they typically seek to hijack vessels for ransom or robbery and have not employed explosive-laden boats in their tactics.