Armed Skiff Attempts to Board Sailing Vessel Southwest of Al Hudaydah as JMIC Holds Critical Threat for Strait of Hormuz

MIDDLE EAST — A skiff carrying 10 to 12 individuals, four to five of whom were armed with automatic weapons, approached a sailing vessel approximately 54 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, on 12 April, according to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Warning 034-26.

The vessel’s master (the commanding officer) refused to stop and deployed a flare. The skiff turned away and departed to the southeast without boarding.

The incident, the only event listed in the UKMTO Daily Summary for the 24-hour period ending 12 April, occurred approximately 112 nautical miles north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in waters the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) assesses at MODERATE threat level.

JMIC Update 031, covering 1 March to 12 April, maintains a CRITICAL overall regional maritime threat level for the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.

Skiff Attempted Boarding in Southern Red Sea Approaches

UKMTO Warning 034-26, issued on 12 April, documented the full incident sequence. The skiff approached the sailing vessel and the occupants requested that it stop. When the master refused, the skiff attempted to pull alongside to board.

UKMTO stated, “A sailing vessel was approached by a skiff with approximately 10-12 people on board, 4-5 of whom were armed with automatic weapons.

The crew requested that the sailing vessel stopped and when the Master refused they attempted to pull the skiff alongside the sailing vessel to board. The Master deployed a flare and the skiff turned away and departed to the southeast.”

The location, approximately 14.16°N, 42.30°E, places the incident in the southern Red Sea approaches to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. No flag state, International Maritime Organization (IMO) number, or destination for the sailing vessel has been released. UKMTO stated, “Authorities are investigating.”

Assessment: The presence of automatic weapons and attempted forcible boarding match known tactics associated with piracy and smuggling operations in this waterway. Houthi forces have not attacked commercial shipping since the October 2025 Israel-Gaza ceasefire, and no Houthi affiliation has been reported for the 12 April skiff.

The incident occurred approximately 112 nautical miles from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait chokepoint, within the area JMIC assesses as MODERATE rather than CRITICAL. Until the skiff’s affiliation and intent are established, the incident falls within the pattern of sporadic opportunistic activity rather than state-directed or militia-directed maritime operations.