Maritime Authority: Cargo ship survives repeated attacks south of Aden

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO ) announced that a cargo ship and its crew survived repeated attacks targeting it while sailing south of Aden, off the coast of Yemen.

The authority stated in a note on the X platform that it received a report of an incident 57 nautical miles south of Aden, off the coast of Yemen.

She added in updated notes that the ship's captain informed her that his ship and crew survived five explosions that occurred near the ship over three consecutive periods.

She indicated that the ship is heading to the next port of call, while the authorities are investigating.

UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 111 ATTACK UPDATE 002 https://t.co/fX3hWupPWO #MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/AzxSUK9ZAC

— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) August 22, 2024

Local sources reported early this morning that they heard missiles being launched from Houthi-controlled areas east of Taiz towards the sea.

This is the second attack of its kind targeting cargo ships in the past 24 hours, while sailing in Yemeni waters, as a Greek ship was subjected to repeated attacks that caused it to run aground in the Red Sea.

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, which the Houthis responded to with attacks on American and British naval ships, considering them “military targets.”