UPDATE - Vessel, attacked off Yemen, catches fire, loses engine power: UK maritime agency

UPDATES WITH NEW DETAILS; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Britain's maritime agency reported that a vessel that was attacked early Wednesday was targeted again by "an unknown projectile," causing a fire onboard and leaving the ship without engine power.

In a statement, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said that it received another report that the vessel was targeted with further attack by an unknown projectile.

"There is a fire onboard and the vessel has lost engine power. The vessel is drifting and not under command," added the UKMTO.

The ship captain also reported a small craft acting suspiciously in the vicinity, according to the statement.

In its statement earlier, UKMTO said it received a report of an incident 77 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah.

Early Wednesday, the ship's captain reported that the vessel was approached by two small craft – the first craft had three to five people onboard, while the second had around 10.

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.