ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Monday it received a report of an incident involving a merchant vessel about 128 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's Aden.
The UKMTO said in an initial statement posted on social media platform X that the ship's master witnessed a splash and smoke in the distance, astern of the vessel. It then said in an updated statement on X that military authorities confirmed the vessel was "hit by an unknown projectile" and "on fire."
It advised vessels to "transit with caution and report any suspicious activity."
Meanwhile, a Yemeni government Coast Guard official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua they have received information about the incident, but declined to provide further details.
Earlier in the day, residents in central Yemen's Al Bayda province reported that the Houthi group launched a missile from their mountainous locations toward the Arabian Sea.
The Gulf of Aden forms part of a vital maritime corridor linking the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. In recent months, the waterway and the neighboring Red Sea have witnessed repeated attacks on commercial shipping, attributed to Houthis, who say their operations are intended to pressure Israel and its allies in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict. ■
