Cairo
A UK Navy vessel was hit by a projectile and caught fire in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday night, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported on Sunday. The incident occurred at around 2340 GMT, approximately 70 nautical miles (130 kilometers) southwest of Aden, Yemen. The projectile struck the aft section of the vessel, causing a fire. No casualties were reported, and damage control measures were implemented. The vessel continued its journey to its next port of call.
The specific details of the vessel were not disclosed by the agency, which advised ships to exercise caution while transiting the area. The Gulf of Aden, located off the Yemeni coast, connects the Arabian Sea to the Red Sea and is a crucial route for global trade. Since the conflict in Gaza began in October, Houthi militants have frequently targeted merchant ships in the region. The Houthis claim these attacks are intended to support the Palestinian militant group Hamas by disrupting cargo shipments to Israel.
The UKMTO noted a significant increase in maritime incidents in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with a 475 percent rise since the Houthi attacks on merchant vessels began. The shipping route along Yemen is vital for international trade, allowing freighters to travel from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal in Egypt. In response to these attacks, the United States and the UK have conducted military strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen. Additionally, the European Union has initiated a military operation to safeguard merchant shipping in the Red Sea.
