First fatal shipping attack since Oct. 7 occurs amid Houthi assaults: Report

A suspected Houthi attack Wednesday on a commercial ship reportedly caused the first "fatalities" since the Iran-backed terrorists began upping their assaults following Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

The crew abandoned True Confidence, the Liberian-owned and Barbados-flagged carrier ship, in the Gulf of Aden, officials said, according to The Associated Press.

Two U.S. officials also acknowledged that the assault resulted in "fatalities," but they did not further elaborate. 

A U.S. warship and the Indian navy were assisting in rescue efforts on the scene, an official said. 

Although the Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, the Yemen-based terrorist group typically takes several hours to do so.

Houthis have been increasing their attacks in the region in support of Hamas since last fall. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has not stopped the attacks so far, and major companies such as BP and Shell have suspended all shipments in the region in response.

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