Maritime Authority: Commercial ship hit by drone attack off Hodeidah

The UK Maritime Trade Operations ( UKMTO ) reported on Monday that a commercial vessel was hit by a drone attack off Hodeidah (western Yemen).

The authority said in a statement on the X platform that the captain of a commercial ship informed it that a ship was hit by a drone attack 58 miles west of Hodeidah.

She explained that no injuries were recorded among the crew of the ship, which continued on its way to the next port of call.

UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 119-ATTACK-UPDATE 001 https://t.co/xDXdjYY0Eq #MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/WKPCaGTi6M

— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) September 2, 2024

Earlier today, the authority said another commercial ship was attacked by two unknown projectiles 70 nautical miles northwest of Al-Salif in Yemen.

She added that the damage is being assessed, and that a third explosion occurred near the ship, but there were no injuries on board.

Since last November, the Iran-backed Houthi militia has been launching drone and missile attacks on cargo ships sailing in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen, claiming that this is in support of Gaza, which has been subjected to a devastating Israeli war since October 7. These attacks have negatively affected shipping, trade and global supply chains.

As a result, the United States formed a military coalition led by it, and since the beginning of this year, it has been carrying out strikes alongside Britain that it says target the Houthis’ military capabilities, in response to their attacks on cargo ships. The Houthis responded by attacking American and British naval vessels, considering them “military targets.”