Merchant ship reports 2 explosions in close proximity in Gulf of Aden – Firstpost

According to the British maritime security organization UKMTO, two explosions were detected in “close proximity” by a merchant vessel traveling through the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen on Tuesday.

The “vessel and all crew are safe,” according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which also stated that “authorities are investigating” the explosions that occurred south of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen.

The Royal Navy of Britain operates UKMTO. It did not disclose information on the ship or the type of attack.

Since November, the Huthi rebels in Yemen, who are supported by Iran, have attacked ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with several drone and missile strikes.

The Huthis claim that their campaign is a show of support for Palestinians amidst the conflict in Gaza.

They made a warning on Friday to broaden their operations to include the Mediterranean Sea and cargo headed for Israel.

The Huthi attacks have forced large corporations to steer clear of the route that typically carries 12 percent of world trade, prompting the United States to initiate a campaign in December to protect Red Sea shipping from these attacks.

The United States and the United Kingdom have also repeatedly carried out retaliatory strikes on Huthi sites in Yemen since January.

US military personnel shot down a drone that the Huthis had fired over the Red Sea on Monday, according to a statement from the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM).

According to CENTCOM, the drone “presented an imminent threat to US coalition forces and merchant vessels in the region”.

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