Latest News

Vessel reports being assaulted off Yemen, UKMTO and Ambrey say

A merchant vessel reported it had been assaulted early on Monday by 3 little craft in the Red Sea about 70 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's port city of Hodeidah, Britain's maritime agency and security firm Ambrey said.

An unmanned small craft collided with the vessel twice and two manned little craft fired at it, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The vessel and crew were reported safe, and it was proceeding to the next port of call, it said.

There was no immediate claim of duty for the attack. But since November, the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen has released drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The group states these actions remain in solidarity with Palestinians affected by Israel's war in Gaza.

Ambrey stated the vessel fitted the Houthi target profile.

The vessel carried out self-protection procedures, then after 15 minutes the small craft aborted the attack, UKMTO said.

In lots of attacks since November, the Houthis have sunk two vessels, took another and eliminated a minimum of 3 sailors.

The attacks have upended worldwide trade by forcing ship owners to reroute vessels far from the Suez Canal, and drawn vindictive U.S. and British strikes because February.

(source: Reuters)