Two ships were set on fire after being struck by projectiles off the coast of Yemen near Aden, according to reports from two UK maritime agencies on Sunday.
The British security firm Ambrey disclosed that an Antigua- and Barbuda-flagged general cargo ship was hit by a missile 83 nautical miles southeast of Aden, causing a fire that was subsequently contained. Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had received a report from the ship’s captain regarding an incident 80 nautical miles southeast of Aden.
Ambrey reported that the ship was moving southwest along the Gulf of Aden at a speed of 8.2 knots when the forward section was struck by a missile, igniting a fire that was quickly neutralized. A second missile was spotted but did not hit the vessel. During the incident, individuals on small boats in the vicinity opened fire on the ship. The vessel then altered its course to port and increased its speed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
In a separate incident, both Ambrey and UKMTO received reports of another ship being struck 70 nautical miles southwest of Aden. According to UKMTO, the ship’s master reported that the vessel was hit by an unknown projectile on the aft section, resulting in a fire. Damage control efforts were underway, and no casualties were reported. The vessel continued to its next port of call.
The Houthi militia, which controls the most populated areas of Yemen and is allied with Iran, claimed responsibility for attacking three ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. The Houthis have been targeting ships off their coast for several months, citing solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel in Gaza as their motive.
Houthi fighters have launched drone and missile attacks in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden, causing shippers since November to opt for longer and more expensive routes around southern Africa to avoid the conflict zone. In response to these attacks, the United States and Britain have conducted strikes against Houthi targets.
