An explosion was reported near a ship off the coast of Yemen, where Houthi rebels are increasing attacks on merchant shipping, the maritime security company Ambrey said on Wednesday.
“A nearby vessel reported an explosion near (a) Barbados-flagged bulk carrier owned by an American company
,” the British company reported, specifying that it was 57 nautical miles (105 km) away. southwest of the city of Aden.
Ordered to change course
Britain's maritime security agency, UKMTO, earlier reported that a commercial vessel had been contacted by
"an entity posing as the Yemeni navy ordering it to change course
. "
She then reported an
“incident”
in the same area, without giving further details.
According to Ambrey, it is the same bulk carrier.
Houthi rebels, close to Iran, have since November targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden that they consider linked to Israel, saying they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in the context of the war in the strip. from Gaza, where Israel is fighting the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
Since the United States set up a multinational maritime protection force and carried out, sometimes with the help of the United Kingdom, strikes against its positions in Yemen, insurgents have also targeted American and British ships.
The US military said it shot down a missile and three rebel drones on Tuesday that were targeting a US Navy destroyer in the Red Sea.
The day before, the Houthis had attacked a container ship from the Italian-Swiss shipowner MSC, claiming that it was an
“Israeli ship”
.