An explosion near a vessel south of Yemen on Wednesday has raised concerns of potential attacks on Red Sea shipping by Iran-backed Huthi rebels. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported an explosion approximately 100 meters from the vessel, located 50 nautical miles south of the Yemeni port of Mokha. Fortunately, the vessel and crew were unharmed, and there were no reports of injuries or damage.

The Huthis began striking in the Red Sea in mid-November, allegedly targeting Israeli-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, amidst the conflict between Hamas and Israel. In response, the United States and Britain have conducted joint strikes aimed at diminishing the Huthis' ability to target shipping. Additionally, the US military has carried out unilateral air raids on the Iran-backed rebels' missiles, destroying two Huthi anti-ship missiles in the latest strike.

Despite these efforts, the Huthis have continued to defy these interventions, targeting further ships and declaring American and British interests as legitimate targets. The escalating tensions in the region raise concerns about the safety of commercial shipping and the need for diplomatic resolutions to address the conflict.