The attack took place on the evening of January 9 at around 9:15 p.m. local time. The Houthis reportedly launched suicide drones at targets in the confederate Red Sea, late classified as one-way attack UAVs (OWA UAVs). In addition to these, anti-ship cruise missiles and 1 anti-ship ballistic rocket were besides launched. At the time of the attack, there were "dozen" ships in the area, mostly those that had passed through or those that were heading for the Suez Canal.