A British ship sailing through the Red Sea was reportedly hit by rocket fire, a Britain-based maritime security group said on Sunday, while another agency reported possible drone activity in the area.
The unnamed Bahamas-flagged ship was “hit by a missile” as it headed south about 35 nautical miles off Yemen’s west coast, maritime security firm Ambrey said, citing reports.
“The affected vessel issued distress calls related to piracy/missile attack,” the UK-based company added.
Reports were noted that “an international naval asset in the vicinity of the incident” was likely making its way to the ship’s location.
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The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency, run by Britain’s Royal Navy, said it had received “a report of unmanned aerial system (UAS) activity, including a possible explosion… from the direction of Yemen.”
Vessels in the area were advised to “exercise caution.”
The reported incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea and surrounding waters after Iran-backed Houthi rebels hijacked an Israeli-linked cargo ship, the Galaxy Leader, last month.
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Within days, two ballistic missiles were also fired from an area controlled by Houthi rebels in Yemen, landing about 10 nautical miles from a U.S. destroyer, the USS Mason, according to the Pentagon.
The Houthis have launched a series of drone and rocket attacks on Israel since Hamas militants poured across the border into Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 240.
The rise in maritime incidents prompted G7 foreign ministers at a meeting earlier this week to urge the rebels to stop threatening international shipping and release the Galaxy Leader.
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In the latest apparent attack, Ambrey said the target ship – en route from the United States to Singapore – transited the Suez Canal five days ago
“The bulk carrier was reportedly hit by a missile and the crew retreated to the citadel,” it said.
“Many ships passed the scene of the accident today, but no unusual maneuvers were observed.”
Ambrey said the ownership and management of the attacked ship was linked to Dan David Ungar, a British citizen who is listed as an Israeli resident in Britain’s main business directory.
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