In a maritime episode unfolding off the coast of Dubai, suspicions loom over Yemen’s Houthi rebels regarding an assault that inflicted damage upon a Belize-flagged vessel navigating the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an aquatic corridor linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This incident transpired early Monday, coinciding with the acknowledgment by the U.S. military of fresh airstrikes directed at the rebels. Among these strikes, one specifically targeted the inaugural Houthi underwater drone observed since the onset of their maritime offensive in November.

The vessel subject to the Houthi onslaught on Sunday reported sustaining damage following “an explosion in close proximity to the vessel,” as relayed by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center of the British military. Remarkably, the crew onboard the ship emerged unharmed from the encounter.

According to reports from the private security entity Ambrey, the cargo ship in question, registered in Britain and operated by a Lebanese entity, was en route to Bulgaria after departing from Khorfakkan in the United Arab Emirates. Tracking data from MarineTraffic.com, scrutinized by The Associated Press, identified the targeted vessel as the Rubymar. Unfortunately, the Beirut-based manager of the ship could not be immediately reached for comment.

Ambrey’s depiction of the ship suggested it was partially laden with cargo, yet the nature of the cargo remained elusive. Intriguingly, the ship had deactivated its Automatic Identification System tracker while traversing the Persian Gulf earlier in the month.

Although the Houthi faction refrained from promptly claiming responsibility for the assault, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, a military spokesperson for the rebels, intimated that a statement elucidating their activities would likely be disseminated on Monday morning.

Since November, the rebels have persistently targeted vessels in the Red Sea and adjacent waters, ostensibly in response to Israel’s military actions against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Notably, their choice of targets has extended to vessels with tenuous or obscure affiliations with Israel, posing a threat to maritime traffic in a pivotal trade route connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Among these targeted vessels was one transporting cargo destined for Iran, a prominent supporter of the Houthi cause.

Simultaneously, the U.S. military’s Central Command disclosed the execution of five airstrikes pinpointing Houthi military assets. These strikes specifically targeted mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, an explosive-laden drone boat, and an “unmanned underwater vessel,” marking the first instance of observed Houthi utilization of such a vessel since the initiation of attacks on October 23, according to Central Command’s announcement.