Ship hit off rebel-held Yemeni region: UK agency

Two projectiles hit a merchant vessel on Monday off Yemen’s rebel-held Hodeida governorate, a British maritime security agency said, reporting that the crew was safe and assessing the damage.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the presumed attack in the area where Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthis have targeted ships they say are linked to Israel, in a campaign since November the rebels say is in solidarity with Palestinian ally Hamas amid the Gaza war.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency, run by Britain’s Royal Navy, said a ship reported it was “hit by two unknown projectiles” before “a third explosion occurred nearby”.

The incident occurred 70 nautical miles northwest of the port of Al-Salif in Yemen’s rebel-held Hodeida.

“Damage control is underway,” UKMTO said, reporting that “are no casualties onboard and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call”.

The Huthi attacks have disrupted maritime traffic thorough the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, areas that are vital to global trade.

The United States and Britain have struck Huthi targets in Yemen since January, but it has done little to deter the rebels. (BSS/AFP)