A vessel came under attack off Yemen after small boats fired self-propelled grenades towards the ship.
The incident occurred 51 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Sunday.
The vessel was attacked by “multiple small vessels,” the report said. The vessels had opened fire, and a security team on the vessel had responded, with the incident continuing for hours.
“UKMTO has received a report of an incident 51NM southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen,” the UKMTO said.
“The vessel has been engaged by multiple small vessels who have opened fire with small arms and self-propelled grenades. Armed Security Team have returned fire and situation is ongoing,” it added.
Authorities are investigating the incident, whilst vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.
The incident comes two months after the US announced a truce with the Iran-backed Houthis aimed at halting attacks on shipping in the region.
In May, the group cemented a ceasefire with the United States that ended weeks of intense American strikes against it, with the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt writing on X (former twitter): “Massive WIN. President Trump promised to restore the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, and he used great American strength to swiftly deliver on that promise. The world is safer with President Trump in charge.”
Earlier Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi confirmed with a short statement in social media that efforts have resulted in an end to the conflict between the two sides.
However, the Houthis pledged last month to resume operations in the region after the US attacked their main backer, Iran.
The threat came just hours after U.S. forces launched a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The spokesperson of the Yemeni armed forces Yahya Sare’e emphasised that the group is closely monitoring all movements in the region, including what he described as “hostile movements,” and will take the necessary measures to protect itself.
Yemen’s Houthis said on Sunday that the group carried out a military operation against Lod Airport, stating that it caused “millions to flee shelters and halting airport operations.”
“We carried out a qualitative military operation targeting Lod Airport in the occupied area of Yaffa using a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile. The operation successfully achieved its goal,” the group’s military spokesperson said.
