MCAD Maritime Cyber Attack Database
Year2023 |
Month |
Reference number20230104 |
Impact areaVessel |
Incident locationStrait of Bab al-Mandab |
Incident countryYemen |
Victim countryBelize |
Victim identityMerchant vessels |
Victim TypeShipping company |
MethodGPS Spoofing |
Attacker countryYemen |
In recent incidents, Yemen's Houthi rebels have conducted kinetic attacks and GPS spoofing against merchant vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical waterway connecting the Suez Canal and Red Sea with the Indian Ocean. The attacks, which include the use of Iranian-supplied cruise missiles and underwater drones, have caused significant damage to vessels such as the UAE military ship Swift and a Belize-flagged ship, though no casualties were reported. These actions have disrupted global trade flows, particularly affecting crude oil and fuel shipments, and have led to increased freight costs and voyage times as major shipping companies reroute their vessels via the Cape of Good Hope. The United States, along with several other countries, is leading a multinational operation to safeguard commerce in the Red Sea. The Houthis' actions are seen as part of their support for Hamas in its conflict with Israel, and they have warned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports. The strategic threat posed by the Houthis has prompted the deployment of U.S. Navy warships to the area and calls for enhanced maritime security measures.
