Two ships caught fire after being hit by missiles off the coast of Aden, Yemen, according to two British maritime agencies on Sunday.
Ambrey, a British maritime security company, reported that a cargo ship flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda was struck by a missile 83 nautical miles southeast of Aden. The ship caught fire but the blaze was brought under control.
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report from a ship’s captain about an incident 80 nautical miles southeast of Aden.
Ambrey’s advisory stated, “The vessel was travelling southwest along the Gulf of Aden at a speed of 8.2 knots when its forward station was hit by a missile. A fire erupted but was extinguished,” according to Reuters.
The advisory also noted, “A second missile was observed but did not hit the ship. Individuals on small boats in the area fired at the ship during the incident.” The vessel then changed course to port at increased speed, with no reported injuries.
In a separate incident, UKMTO reported receiving a captain’s report about another occurrence 70 nautical miles southwest of Aden.
The advisory mentioned, “The captain reported the vessel was hit by an unidentified projectile at the stern, causing a fire. The damage is being assessed.” The ship did not report any injuries and continued its journey to the next port.
The Houthi group, which controls the most densely populated areas in Yemen and is allied with Iran, has been attacking ships off its coast for months, claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel in Gaza.
The Houthis have launched drone and missile attacks on the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden, forcing shipping companies since November to take longer and more expensive routes around South Africa.
