A SINGAPORE-flagged containership operated by Chinese carrier CU Lines was fired upon by an armed small craft off Yemen’s western coast on Wednesday, highlighting growing security concerns around the Bab el Mandeb as fighting escalates on land.

The 2,400 teu CUL Klang (IMO: 9958535) came under attack at about 0615 UTC while transiting northbound through the southern Red Sea, around 15 nautical miles southwest of Mocha, according to maritime security consultancy Marisks.

Multiple shots were reportedly fired towards the vessel’s bridge before the attackers broke off. No injuries were reported and all crew were safe.

The vessel had departed Port Klang, Malaysia, on September 27 and was transiting the Mocha-Bab el Mandeb corridor when the incident occurred. Its AIS destination message reportedly displayed the wording: “CHINA OWNED&CHN CREW”.

The use of an armed small craft and the location of the attack are consistent with tactics previously used by Houthi forces against merchant shipping, although attribution has not been independently confirmed.

The incident comes amid renewed fighting along Yemen’s western coastline, where Houthi forces and Saudi-backed government forces are contesting territory around Mocha and the Bab el Mandeb.

Recent Houthi threats against Saudi shipping have already wiped out much of the traffic recovery through the chokepoint that followed the Strait of Hormuz crisis. However, Red Sea transits have remained broadly resilient, with diversions largely limited to Saudi-affiliated tankers targeted by the Houthis.

Container lines and other non-tanker operators have continued planning returns to the trade lane. Lloyd’s List Intelligence data shows at least 1,214 transits by cargo-carrying vessels above 10,000 gt through the Bab el Mandeb in September, up 17% year on year.

The latest attack nevertheless underscores mounting risks in the region.

Hours before the Cul Klang incident, Houthi forces launched ballistic missiles and drones towards Aden. The group said it targeted a Saudi military facility, while Yemeni authorities said one missile struck the runway at Aden International Airport, forcing a Cairo-bound commercial flight to divert.

Marisks said the combination of the attack on Cul Klang and the strikes around Aden pointed to a “material deterioration” in the security environment across the southern Red Sea.

Given the vessel’s proximity to one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors, confirmation of Houthi involvement would suggest the intensifying ground conflict is once again spilling into the maritime domain after months of relative stability.

The incident is also notable for CU Lines, which has expanded aggressively across Middle East and Red Sea trades amid prolonged regional disruption. The carrier recently ordered its first post-panamax containerships, citing growing activity in the Middle East, Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean markets.