Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
Reuters reported today, Sunday, that the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report of an attack on a commercial vessel 51 nautical miles southwest of Hudaidah city, western Yemen.
The UKMTO clarified that the attack was carried out by boats that fired small arms and projectiles at the ship. They did not disclose further details on the extent of the damage or the responsible party. However, this incident comes amid escalating threats in navigation areas near the Yemeni coast controlled by the Houthi group.
The British authority had previously issued a warning on Saturday about renewed risks facing ships heading to Hudaidah governorate’s ports, indicating a “real possibility” of airstrikes that could target ships or cranes and maritime facilities in that area, potentially leading to “severe damage.”
The UKMTO confirmed that the threat level remains “high” in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, urging commercial vessels to exercise extreme caution when approaching what it called “Houthi ports.”
It stressed the necessity for ships to continuously assess the risks associated with ongoing military operations in the region, coordinate closely with competent authorities, and adhere to maritime security guidelines to avoid any potential threats.
This warning is the third of its kind in the past three months, following similar warnings in May and June, as part of a series of alerts issued by the British authority, which serves as an international reference for maritime navigation in conflict zones.
