Greek ship comes under attack near Yemeni coast UPDATED

A Greek cargo ship flying the Marshall Islands flag has been attacked by two missiles while in the Bab el Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.

According to NEWSru.co.il, this was announced by the British maritime security company Ambrey.

11:48

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a merchant vessel has been attacked by the Iranian-backed militant group Houthi in the Red Sea, 40 nautical miles south of the Yemeni port city of Al-Mukha.

Two missiles were fired at the ship, the captain said. The crew was not injured and the ship is on its way to port, TASS reports, citing UKMTO.

UKMTO WARNING

INCIDENT 029 Update 001 https://t.co/XsgrK5uW2N#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/DqP9vcptKg

— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) February 12, 2024

UKMTO advised ships to exercise caution in the area and urged them to report any suspicious activity.

With the conflict in the Gaza Strip escalating, the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement announced that it would conduct strikes on Israeli territory and block pro-Israeli vessels from passing through the waters of the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until Tel Aviv ceases its military operation in the Palestinian enclave. The Houthis have attacked dozens of civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since mid-November of last year.

On the night of January 12, US and UK forces launched strikes using aircraft, ships and submarines against Yemeni rebel movement targets in several cities, including Sanaa and Hodeidah. US President Joe Biden said that the strike was carried out in response to unprecedented attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea and was defensive. The targets included missile sites, UAVs and the Houthis’ radar stations. Several more such operations followed.