19 February 2024 , 12:39
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A ship off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea was targeted by missile fire, likely launched by Houthi rebels.
The vessel's captain reported an explosion near the ship off the city of Mocha, according to the UK's Maritime Trade Organisation. They confirmed that "The crew and the vessel are reported safe."
The security firm Ambrey described the ship be a Panama-flagged tanker and reported it suffered minor damage but the crew were unharmed. Yemen's Houthi rebels did not immediately acknowledge carrying out the attack.
However, the rebels typically take several hours before claiming their assaults. Since November, they have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea due to Israel's actions in Gaza. The US and UK militaries have responded with airstrikes targeting the rebels' missile stores and launch sites.
Meanwhile, the US military's Central Command said it did carry out new airstrikes last week. They said they hit three mobile missiles in Houthi land that "were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea."
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