Сargo ship came under attack off Yemen's coast: Damages reported
Illustrative photo: A British-registered cargo ship was attacked off the coast of Yemen (Getty Images)
A cargo ship registered in the United Kingdom under the flag of Belize has been attacked near Yemen in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden in the Arabian Sea, reports the British maritime security company Ambrey.
It is noted that the incident occurred on Sunday, 35 nautical miles south of the Yemeni port city of Mocha. The attack took place as the ship was heading north during its journey from Khor Fakkan (United Arab Emirates) to Varna (Bulgaria).
The ship was attacked in the Bab-el-Mandab strait near the coast of Yemen (photo: map screen google.com/maps)
The explosion, which occurred in close proximity to the ship, caused damage to it.
As a result of the incident, the crew was unharmed and is reported to be safe, according to the agency.
"The partially laden vessel briefly slowed from ten to six knots and deviated course, and contacted the Djiboutian Navy, before returning to her previous course and speed," Ambrey stated.
The ship, registered in the UK, is operated in Lebanon.
Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea
Since November of last year, attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels on merchant ships in the Red Sea have been ongoing. In January, the terrorist group delivered the most significant blow.
On January 28, it was reported that a Houthi drone attacked a British military ship in the Red Sea, and the next day, the Yemeni Houthis claimed to have attacked an American destroyer. However, the Pentagon refuted the militants' claim.
Prior to this, on February 6, it was reported that a British cargo ship was attacked by the Houthis in the Red Sea. On February 7, from Yemeni territory, the Houthis launched six anti-ship ballistic missiles towards two commercial vessels in the southern part of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They did not cause damage to the ships, and one of the missiles was intercepted and shot down by U.S. military forces.
In recent days, the Houthis attacked a tanker in the Red Sea with a missile. The tanker, flying under the Panamanian flag, was transporting crude oil to India and had departed from the Russian Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk.
Operation by the United States and Britain to protect shipping from Houthi attacks
In early January, the United States and Britain launched powerful strikes against targets associated with the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This was in response to the ongoing attacks by the Houthis on civilian ships in the Red Sea.
Subsequently, U.S. military forces conducted a series of strikes against Houthi cruise missiles and surface drones in Yemen.
Additionally, it was recently reported that the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a shipment of weapons from Iran destined for Houthi rebels in Yemen. On February 17, U.S. military forces carried out five strikes in self-defense in areas of Yemen controlled by Iran-backed Houthi insurgents.
