A ship flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda caught fire after being hit by a missile near the coast of Yemen, the British security firm Ambrey reported on Saturday (06/08/2024).
“The ship was moving southwest along the Gulf of Aden at a speed of 8.2 knots when the forward station was hit by a missile. A fire started which was neutralized,” Ambrey said in a statement. He indicated that no injuries were reported.
A second missile missed its target and “small boats in the area opened fire on the ship,” forcing it to change direction.
The attack occurred amid a campaign of drone and missile attacks against ships associated with Israel by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, supported by Iran.
The attacks, which the Houthis say are in support of the Palestinians, led some shipping companies to divert their vessels around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea.
About 12% of world trade passes through the Red Sea route annually.
The United States and the United Kingdom began launching retaliatory attacks against Houthi targets in Yemen in January.
However, such attacks have not stopped the missiles of the Houthis, who have vowed to also attack American and British vessels, in addition to all ships heading to Israeli ports.
jc (afp, reuters)
