The Yemeni official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the merchant ship, identified as "Transworld Navigator," was attacked at approximately 5:05 a.m. local time (0205 GMT), confirming that the ship sustained damage from the direct hit, although the extent of the damage remains unspecified.
According to the official, no casualties were reported among the crew. Notably, this incident follows a separate attack on the same ship while sailing in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed having received a report of an incident approximately 65 nautical miles west of Hodeidah, Xinhua news agency reported.
The UKMTO statement said the captain of a merchant ship reported a hit from an unmanned aerial system, which caused damage to the ship. All crew members were reported safe and the ship was said to be heading to its next port of call.
The Houthi group has not officially commented on the incident. However, on Saturday, the group claimed to have attacked the US aircraft carrier Eisenhower in the northern Red Sea and the Transworld Navigator in the Arabian Sea with multiple missiles.
The group also announced joint operations with Iraqi armed factions, reportedly targeting five ships in the Israeli port of Haifa and the Mediterranean Sea.
These attacks are part of a broader campaign by the Houthis, which began in November 2023 and targeted ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The group claims to be attacking ships associated with Israel or heading to Israeli ports, citing continued Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip as justification.
In response to these attacks, the United States and Britain launched a military operation in January, including air and missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. This intervention has led the Houthi group to expand its targets to include American and British commercial and military ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
This ongoing conflict along the vital shipping routes of the Red Sea and surrounding waters continues to raise concerns about maritime security and the implications for global trade.
According to the official, no casualties were reported among the crew. Notably, this incident follows a separate attack on the same ship while sailing in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed having received a report of an incident approximately 65 nautical miles west of Hodeidah, Xinhua news agency reported.
The UKMTO statement said the captain of a merchant ship reported a hit from an unmanned aerial system, which caused damage to the ship. All crew members were reported safe and the ship was said to be heading to its next port of call.
The Houthi group has not officially commented on the incident. However, on Saturday, the group claimed to have attacked the US aircraft carrier Eisenhower in the northern Red Sea and the Transworld Navigator in the Arabian Sea with multiple missiles.
The group also announced joint operations with Iraqi armed factions, reportedly targeting five ships in the Israeli port of Haifa and the Mediterranean Sea.
These attacks are part of a broader campaign by the Houthis, which began in November 2023 and targeted ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The group claims to be attacking ships associated with Israel or heading to Israeli ports, citing continued Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip as justification.
In response to these attacks, the United States and Britain launched a military operation in January, including air and missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. This intervention has led the Houthi group to expand its targets to include American and British commercial and military ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
This ongoing conflict along the vital shipping routes of the Red Sea and surrounding waters continues to raise concerns about maritime security and the implications for global trade.
