UKMTO, Ambrey receive reports of vessel hit, on fire near Yemen's Aden

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency and British maritime security firm, Ambrey, on Friday said they had received reports of a vessel being struck in the Red Sea near Yemen’s Aden and a fire breaking out aboard, Reuters reports.

UKMTO received a report of an incident approximately 60 nautical miles south-east of Aden where “a vessel has been struck and is currently on fire”.

“The vessel is requiring assistance. Authorities have been informed and are responding,” UKMTO added.

Ambrey also said that it was aware of an incident 55 miles south-east of Aden where a fire broke out after a merchant vessel was hit by a “missile”, though the crew were reported safe.

Yemen’s Houthi group, which controls the most populous parts of Yemen, has launched wave after wave of exploding drones and missiles at commercial vessels since 19 November,  in what they say is a protest against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

The Houthi military spokesperson said on Friday that naval forces carried out an operation targeting “the British oil tanker, Marlin Luanda” in the Gulf of Aden, causing a fire to break out.

The Houthi campaign has been very disruptive to international shipping, causing some companies to suspend transits through the Red Sea and, instead, take the much longer, costlier journey around Africa.

US and British warplanes, ships and submarines have launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen against Houthi forces in retaliation.

READ: Russia official condemns US, UK strikes on Yemen