UK maritime agency reports drone attack on vessel off western Yemen

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) — Britain's maritime agency reported a fresh incident Monday off the coast of Al Hudaydah in western Yemen.

In a statement, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said it received a report of an incident 58 nautical miles (about 66.7 miles) southwest of Al Hudaydah.

"The Master of a merchant vessel reports that the vessel was hit by an Uncrewed Aerial System," the agency said, adding that there were no casualties onboard and that the vessel was proceeding to its next port of call.

The Red Sea is one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.

The Houthis have been targeting Israeli-linked cargo ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli onslaught since Oct. 7 last year.

Earlier this year, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a multinational mission, Operation Prosperity Guardian, to counter Houthi attacks.