First fatal attack on shipping by Houthi rebels escalates risk in Middle East

The True Confidence bulk carrier was hit in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday (Yohei Mitsugi via AP)

The first fatal attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on shipping threatens to further sever a crucial maritime artery for global trade and carries with it risks beyond those at sea.

The White House is already warning there will be a response to Wednesday’s attack on the Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden.