Red Sea Cargo Ship Attacked Amidst US-Iran Ceasefire; UK Maritime Agency Issues Warning

Key News on the US-Iran War

LONDON (CNA, London, July 5, Combined Wires) - Amidst a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported today that a cargo ship in the Red Sea signaled it had been attacked.

According to a report by the American financial media outlet CNBC, the UKMTO stated that the incident occurred in waters approximately 56 kilometers southwest of the Yemeni port city of Al Hudaydah.

The UKMTO posted on the social media platform X, "A cargo ship sent a distress signal, claiming to have been attacked by unknown armed individuals," and indicated that relevant authorities are investigating the incident.

The UKMTO urged vessels transiting the area to exercise increased vigilance and navigate with caution.

Between 2023 and 2025, the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen had repeatedly attacked merchant ships passing through the Red Sea in retaliation for Israel's military actions in Gaza. However, they had largely refrained from direct involvement in the conflict during the US-Iran war.

The Strait of Hormuz, connecting Iran and Oman, is one of the most crucial maritime chokepoints for Middle East energy exports. Similarly, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, connecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea, is also a vital global shipping route.

Since the United States and Israel jointly launched airstrikes against Iran in February of this year, Iran had attacked oil tankers and cargo ships, leading to a significant decline in oil transport through the Strait of Hormuz. This also made the Bab el-Mandeb Strait an important alternative route for international oil transportation.

The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17, agreeing to end nearly four months of hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and commence 60-day negotiations to seek a permanent peace agreement. Since then, Middle East crude oil exports have rapidly recovered.

According to data from the shipping tracking firm Kpler, since June 17, Saudi Arabia has exported approximately 34 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz. The export volume in the two weeks ending July 2 was more than double the approximately 15 million barrels of crude oil transported through the strait from March 9 to June 17.

With the recovery of market supply, the price of the international benchmark Brent Crude has fallen by 39% from its March high. (Compiled by Liu Wenyu) 1150706

Stand with facts, and your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.

Download the CNA "One-Stop News" APP for real-time updates.

The text, images, and audio on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.