The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident involving a merchant vessel 13 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s Al Mukha on Sunday. The vessel and its crew are safe.
According to a UKMTO advisory note, a merchant vessel reported being approached by 12 small craft, which stayed nearby for about an hour before leaving.
The vessel and crew remained safe, and the vessel continued to its next port of call.
Since November, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group has been conducting drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Israel’s war in Gaza.
The Houthis have carried out numerous attacks, sinking two vessels, seizing another, and killing at least three seafarers.
