There was an attack on a ship off the coast of Yemen, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office (UKMTO) of the British Navy reported on social media X.
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“UKMTO has received a report of an incident 70 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen. Authorities are investigating,” the agency wrote.
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The department classified the incident as an attack. Information about the incident came from a third party.
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UKMTO later issued a message with updated information. It is specified that two missiles were fired in the direction of the ship, and a fire occurred on board. Coalition forces are retaliating.
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The agency advised vessels to proceed through the area with caution and to report any suspicious activity.
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In addition, Reuters, citing the British maritime security company Ambrey, reported that two missiles attacked a British-owned Palau-flagged cargo ship 63 nautical miles southeast of Aden.
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The Houthis, who control much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, began attacking Israeli-linked ships and then American and British warships as the Middle East conflict escalated. Because of this, maritime transport through the Suez Canal has sharply decreased.
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The Ansar Allah movement stated that this is how they help the Palestinians, and their actions do not interfere with freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Arab and Muslim countries have repeatedly warned Washington that unconditional support for Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip will lead to the spread of the conflict throughout the region.
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In response, the United States and Great Britain began striking Houthi targets in mid-January. A member of Ansar Allah’s highest political council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, called the attacks a terrorist barbarity, a deliberate and unjustified aggression.