Yemen: Ship attacked off Hodeidah in Red Sea
A ship has been attacked off the coast of Yemen’s Hodeidah in the Red Sea, a British monitor said on Thursday.
The UK Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) said the attack happened 34 nautical miles (63 km) southwest of the port city, and advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution.
According to British maritime security company Ambrey Intelligence, the incident involved a sailing vessel that managed to escape an attempted boarding from occupants of boats and that the crew has been reported safe.
The company added that “investigations are ongoing” and that the vessel was “likely Hong Kong-flagged” but did not give further details.
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The US Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet told Reuters it was aware of the attack but declined to comment further.
Previous attacks off the coast have been blamed on Somali pirates, but the frequency has fallen in recent years as a result of international security operations.
But the incident marked the latest at-sea attack during the war in Yemen after the Houthis seized the UAE-flagged ship, Rwabee, in January.
The ship’s crew was only released last month after the Houthis and the Saudi-led Arab coalition reached a fragile truce during the holy month of Ramadan.
More than 230,000 people have died during the war in Yemen, and millions have been displaced as a humanitarian crisis deepens due to fighting between Iran-supported Houthis and the Saudi-backed government.
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