(London) A missile hit a cargo ship on Saturday evening off the coast of Yemen, where attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels are increasing against merchant shipping, announced the British maritime security company Ambrey, which did not report any injuries.
“A cargo ship flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda was hit by an 83NM missile southeast of Aden (Yemen) […] A fire broke out but was extinguished […] People in small boats nearby opened fire on the vessel during the incident,” Ambrey said, adding that no injuries were reported.
Britain’s maritime safety agency UKMTO confirmed an “incident” in the area in which “an unknown projectile” struck a vessel, and urged vessels to exercise caution. “All the crew are safe and the ship continues on its way,” the agency added.
According to the Ambrey company, “a second missile was seen, but did not hit” the cargo ship.
Since November, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched dozens of drone and missile strikes against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, disrupting global maritime trade in the strategic area.
Allies of Iran, they say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in the context of the war started in October between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Faced with Houthi attacks, the United States, Israel’s supporter, set up a multinational force in December to protect navigation in the Red Sea and launched strikes in Yemen in January, with the help of the United Kingdom, against the rebels.
But the strikes have not deterred the Houthis, who control large swaths of Yemen, and say they are now targeting ships linked to Israel, as well as American and British ships.
Last week, Houthi rebels threatened to intensify their attacks off Yemen after US-British strikes on their positions left 16 people dead, according to the Houthi television channel.