Illustrative image.
A ship sailing near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait saw an explosion in the distance on April 24, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a detachment of the Royal Navy, reported.
In a warning notice, the organization said that the explosion took place some 72 nautical miles to the southeast of Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden.
“The master of a merchant vessel reports an explosion in the water a distance form the vessel,” the UKMTO said. “Vessel and crew reported safe. Authorities are investigating.”
The private British maritime security firm Ambrey separately reported the apparent attack, without providing any further details.
The Houthis (Ansar Allah) did not immediately claim responsibility for the explosion. However, the Iranian-backed Yemeni group remains the main suspect. It typically takes the Houthis several hours, or even a few days before announcing its attacks.
Since last November, the Houthis have attacked dozens of vessels affiliated with Israel or owned by the U.S. and the UK in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean in response to the Israeli war and siege on the Palestinian Gaza Strip.
In an attempt to deter the Houthis, the U.S. and the UK have carried out more than 400 strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen since January. At least 37 people were killed and 30 others were wounded in these strikes. However, the group remains undeterred.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
