AL-MUKALLA: Yemen’s Houthi militia claimed on Sunday they launched an attack on a UK warship in the Red Sea and strikes on two commercial ships in the Arabian Sea, setting one of them on fire. 

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a television statement that their forces “precisely” targeted HMS Diamond with ballistic missiles in the Red Sea, and fired anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones at the Norderney and MSC Tavvishi ships in the Arabian Sea.

The UK warship was targeted in response to the bombing of Yemen, while the two commercial ships were assaulted for defying the militia’s embargo on traveling to Israeli ports, the Houthi official said. 

According to marinetraffic.com, which provides information on ships and their positions, the Norderney is a general cargo ship flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. It was traveling from India to Lebanon and was in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday.

The Liberian-flagged cargo ship MSC Tavvishi was in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday morning.

Reuters reported that a British military source denied the Houthi claims about attacking a British warship in the Red Sea.

In May, the Royal Navy announced that HMS Duncan had been sent to the Red Sea to replace HMS Diamond. It would participate in international efforts to protect international navigation in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.

The Houthi spokesperson’s statement came hours after the UK Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors attacks on shipping, said that two ships in the Gulf of Aden caught fire after being hit by suspected Houthi missiles.

The agency sent a notice on Sunday morning regarding a shipmaster who said his vessel was hit by an “unknown projectile” that ignited a fire 70 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s southern city of Aden, adding that the ship’s crew were unharmed.

“Damage control is underway; the Master reports no casualties, and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call. Authorities continue to monitor the situation,” UKMTO said. 

Hours earlier, the same agency issued another notice about an attack on a ship 80 nautical miles southeast of Aden, which ignited a minor fire in the mooring station and was doused, encouraging ships operating in the area to take precautions and notify it of any hostile activity.

During their campaign against ships in international waters off Yemen, which began in November, the Houthis have seized one commercial ship, sunk another, and fired hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at warships and commercial vessels, claiming that their actions are intended to force Israel to allow humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip.

In reaction to the Houthi attacks, the US and UK launched attacks on Houthi targets in Sanaa, Hodeidah, Saada, and the other areas held by the Houthis.

Houthi media reported that the US and UK carried out three attacks on Al-Jabanah in the western province of Hodeidah on Sunday.