DUBAI: A drone hit a vessel in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen, a British maritime security agency said Wednesday, shortly after the Iran-backed Houthis vowed more attacks on shipping.
A “vessel has been hit on the port side by an Uncrewed Aerial System,” the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said, adding that a fire on board had been extinguished and the “vessel and crew are safe.”
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the agency said Wednesday’s incident happened 60 nautical miles southeast of the port of Aden, and added: “Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”
British maritime risk management company Ambrey said the vessel was a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier.
It said it had been heading “east along the Gulf of Aden when it was struck by a UAV on the port side and on the gangway” which was damaged.
Ambrey said an Indian warship was in contact with the bulk carrier.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
However, earlier Wednesday, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdelsalam told Al Jazeera TV the Houthis would keep up their attacks on Red Sea shipping following a US decision to put the group back on a list of “terrorist” entities.
“We will not give up targeting Israeli ships or ships heading toward ports in occupied Palestine... in support of the Palestinian people,” he told the Qatar-based broadcaster.
He said the Houthis would respond to new strikes on Yemen by the United States or Britain, despite already facing multiple rounds of air strikes in response to their targeting of merchant vessels.
The Houthis say their attacks are in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is battling militant group Hamas.
Drone hits vessel off Yemen: UK maritime security agency
https://arab.news/mm6hz
Drone hits vessel off Yemen: UK maritime security agency
- Houthis attacks on Red Sea shipping would continue following a US decision to redesignate group as “terrorist” entity
Safety of Jordanians a priority during regional conflict, says country’s crown prince
- He visits Civil Defense Department and is briefed on the work it is doing to manage emergencies and protect lives and property amid attacks by Iran
LONDON: The safety of citizens is a priority for authorities in Jordan amid regional tensions, the country’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah Al-Hashimi said on Wednesday as he visited the Civil Defense Department for a briefing and iftar event.
He stressed the importance of keeping pace with the latest developments in civil protection systems and taking every opportunity to enhance the skills of Civil Defense personnel, the royal court said.
The department, which operates under the Ministry of Interior, has been working to manage emergencies and protect lives and property amid a barrage of missiles and drones launched by Tehran in recent days in response to attacks on Iran by the US and Israel. The strikes have targeted civilian and military areas in Jordan and other countries in the region.
During his visit the crown prince was greeted by Maj. Gen. Obeidallah Maaytah, director of the Public Security Directorate, and Brig. Gen. Nasser Sweilmeen, the Civil Defense director, and briefed on the work of the Civil Defense Department, the systems it uses, and the ways in which it is responding to the regional conflict.
In addition to firing missiles into Israel, Iran has targeted US forces at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and other American military sites in Gulf countries. Military personnel and civilians in several countries have been killed or injured by missiles or falling debris.
