Officials say suspected pirates attacked ship in Bab el-Mandeb Strait

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates On Friday, a vessel navigating the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait was reportedly attacked by suspected pirates, according to officials. The British United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center stated that smaller boats pursued the ship and fired upon it.

Private security company Diaplous Group confirmed that the ship was attacked twice and that armed personnel on board returned fire. The company also noted that the crew remained unharmed and identified the vessel as a bulk carrier.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, separates Africa from the Arabian Peninsula. The region has previously experienced assaults by Yemen's Houthi rebels amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, along with increased Somali piracy. However, Houthi operations have paused due to a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

Author: Benjamin Carter