An explosion within the neighborhood of a Barbados-flagged, U.S.-owned cargo ship off the port of Aden in southern Yemen was reported by a close-by vessel, British safety agency Ambrey stated on Wednesday.
The ship, positioned roughly 57 nautical miles southwest of Aden, was hailed by an entity declaring itself to be the “Yemeni Navy” and ordered to change course, Ambrey stated.
Vessels within the neighborhood reported a loud bang and a big plume of smoke, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) company stated.
Houthi militants in Yemen have launched drone and missile assaults on transport within the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November, saying they’re appearing in solidarity with Palestinians to oppose Israel’s army offensive in Gaza.
(Reuters – Reporting by Jana Choukeir; modifying by Michael Georgy, Jason Neely and Kevin Liffey)
