An explosion rattled a vessel approximately 50 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen’s principal port city, on Thursday, as reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
According to a statement by UKMTO on the social media platform X, the incident occurred at 1015 GMT, with no injuries to crew members or damage to the ship reported. The UKMTO did not disclose the vessel’s name but stated that the crew observed the explosion astern of the ship.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, and no group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident. The vessel is presently en route to its next port of call while authorities conduct investigations into the circumstances surrounding the explosion, as stated by the UKMTO.
Recent months have witnessed a surge in attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, with the Houthis claiming responsibility, citing retaliation for Israeli strikes in Gaza. In response, the United States and Britain have launched air and missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since mid-January. However, these strikes seem to have spurred further escalation by Houthi forces rather than deterring or weakening their capabilities.
