Two ships were struck by missiles and caught fire off the coast of Yemen near Aden, as reported by two UK maritime agencies on Sunday. The British security firm Ambrey detailed that an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged cargo ship was hit by a missile 83 nautical miles southeast of Aden, leading to a fire that was eventually contained.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) corroborated these reports, noting that a vessel traveling southwest along the Gulf of Aden at a speed of 8.2 knots was struck by a missile at its forward station. Ambrey’s advisory noted that a second missile was sighted but did not hit the ship. Additionally, individuals on nearby small boats opened fire on the vessel during the incident.
Ambrey reported that the ship changed course to port and increased its speed, managing to avoid further damage. No injuries were reported among the crew. A separate incident occurred 70 nautical miles southwest of Aden, where another vessel was hit by an unknown projectile on the aft section, causing a fire. Damage control efforts were underway, and no casualties were reported as the ship proceeded to its next port of call.
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attacks in a video message, asserting that the vessel was targeted with both missiles and drones. He identified the vessel as the Norderney, which tracking data showed was still in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday afternoon. Saree also claimed additional unreported attacks on a warship and another vessel in the Arabian Sea, though these claims lacked supporting evidence.
The Houthis, who control significant parts of Yemen and are aligned with Iran, have been responsible for numerous attacks on ships in the region, particularly in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. They have stated that these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. These attacks have forced shippers to take longer and more costly routes around southern Africa since November.
The United States and Britain have conducted strikes against Houthi targets in response to these maritime attacks. The U.S. Maritime Administration reported that since November, the Houthis have launched over 50 attacks on shipping, resulting in the deaths of three sailors, the seizure of one vessel, and the sinking of another.
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