Two cargo ships traveling off Yemen’s southern port city of Aden caught fire after being hit by projectiles suspected to have been fired by Houthi rebels, UK maritime agencies reported.
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sundayit had been informed of an incident 80 nautical miles southeast of Aden.
Suspicion for the attack fell on Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have not claimed responsibility for the latest attack but have been targeting shipping in the area for several months with missiles and drones.
The British security firm Ambrey later said a cargo vessel from Antigua and Barbuda had been hit by a missile 83 nautical miles southeast of Aden. The ship caught fire but it was contained.
“The ship was heading southwest along the Gulf of Aden at a speed of 8.2 knots when a missile struck the forward station. A fire started but was neutralized,” Ambrey said in an advisory note seen by Reuters.
“A second missile was sighted but did not hit the ship. Persons on board small boats in the vicinity opened fire on the ship during the incident,” Ambrey said.
No injuries were reported after the ship diverted and sped up.
The UKMTO said they had received a second report about another incident 70 nautical miles southwest of Aden.
“The master reports that the vessel was hit by an unknown projectile on the aft section, which resulted in a fire. Damage control is underway,” UKMTO said.
No casualties were reported and the UKMTO said the vessel was “proceeding to its next port of call. Authorities continue to monitor the situation.”
Reuters reported on Friday that the Houthi rebels had claimed responsibility for attacks on two merchant ships in the Red Sea with “a number of drones and ballistic and naval missiles,” but there was no independent confirmation of the incidents.
Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea corridor and the Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones as part of a campaign that aims to put pressure on Israel and the West over the war in Gaza. Shipping vessels have been forced to take longer and more costly routes around the south of Africa.
A US Navy carrier strike group and warships from European nations have defended the key shipping lanes.
On Monday, the Houthi rebels said they had fired a new solid-fuel missile called the “Palestine” at the southern Israeli city of Eilat on Monday.
The rebels have also detained 11 Yemeni employees of UN agencies under uncertain circumstances, it was reported on Friday.
“We are very concerned about these developments, and we’re actively seeking clarification from the Houthi de facto authorities regarding the circumstances of these detentions,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in New York.
Of the 11, the UN said six had been working for the UN’s human rights agency, and the rest all worked separately for its special envoy’s office, its development arm, Unicef, the World Food Program, and Unesco.
On Thursday, Bloomberg reported that the US was planned to further increase economic pressure on the Houthis by blocking their revenue sources. This includes preventing a $1.5 billion Saudi payment to cover salaries for government employees in militia-held territory.
Read the full article here
