The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), an organization operated by the Royal Navy, reported on Monday that a vessel was targeted by two missiles approximately 40 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast.
The agency, which oversees maritime trade safety, confirmed receiving a report of an incident south of Al Mukha in Yemen.
According to the statement, the vessel’s captain reported that his ship was attacked by two missiles, but assured that the crew was unharmed and safe.
The UKMTO had earlier announced the incident and advised ships to navigate the area with caution, remaining vigilant for any suspicious activity.
This recent escalation in the Red Sea region follows heightened tensions after a direct attack on a U.S. ship by the Houthis on January 9th.
Previously, the Houthis targeted cargo ships owned or operated by Israeli companies, or those transporting goods to and from Israel, in solidarity with the Gaza Strip.
This latest missile attack on a vessel near the Yemeni coast marks a significant development in the ongoing maritime security concerns in the region.
Earlier this month, Yahya Saree, the spokesman of Yemen’s Ansar Allah Rebel Movement, revealed that the number of US strikes on Yemen has surged to 48, with multiple governorates being targeted in the country.
In a statement posted on his account on platform ‘X,’ Saree referred to the airstrikes as part of the “US-UKaggression” and provided a breakdown of the locations hit during the recent operations.
The Pentagon clarified that the strikes specifically targeted underground facilities used by the Houthis to store weapons, missile launchers, and other capabilities employed in attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. The operations covered 13 locations across Yemen.
