Maritime Authority: Commercial ship attacked with two projectiles off Al-Salif, western Yemen

A British maritime authority reported on Monday that a commercial ship was attacked with two projectiles off the coast of Al-Salif, west of Yemen.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations ( UKMTO ) said in a statement on the X platform that a commercial vessel was attacked by two unknown projectiles 70 nautical miles northwest of Al-Salif in Yemen.

The authority added that the damage is being assessed.

The Authority stated that it had received a report from the ship's captain stating that a third explosion had occurred near the ship, without any damage to the ship or its crew.

She indicated that the ship is heading towards the next port of call.

UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 118-ATTACK-UPDATE 001 https://t.co/QHNhIlpJpl #MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/BpWeSJKyKV

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

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.”