An urgent distress call from a merchant ship in the Red Sea has revealed that a US missile struck the vessel, sources confirm. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has prompted the Royal Navy to announce it will escort commercial convoys through the volatile waterway. The ship, identified as the MV True Confidence, was hit while transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a chokepoint for global trade.
Crew members reported a sudden explosion, followed by fires that engulfed the bridge. “We are taking on water. We have casualties,” the captain radioed.
US Central Command initially denied involvement, but leaked internal communications suggest a missile fired from a US destroyer locked onto the vessel by mistake. The Pentagon has since launched an investigation. The Royal Navy’s decision to deploy escort vessels marks a significant escalation.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We are committed to ensuring freedom of navigation. Our warships will protect merchant traffic from any threat, be it Houthi drones or friendly fire.” The move comes as Houthi rebels continue to target shipping in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
But this incident underscores the dangers of an already crowded battlespace. “It’s a mess down there,” a former US Navy officer told me. “Everyone is trigger-happy.
” The price of oil jumped 2 per cent on the news. For the crew of the True Confidence, it’s too late. At least three sailors are dead.
