An alarming incident unfolded near a merchant vessel off the coast of Yemen, prompting the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) to issue a warning. The UKMTO received a report of an explosion near the vessel in the Gulf of Aden, approximately 85 nautical miles east of Aden, Yemen, as stated by the Xinhua news agency.
The master of the unidentified merchant ship reported the explosion, but fortunately, no damage to the vessel or injuries to the crew were reported. However, the UKMTO stressed that the incident is currently under investigation by relevant authorities.
The merchant vessel is reported to be continuing its journey to its next port of call, although no further details regarding the incident’s nature or potential causes have been disclosed.
The Gulf of Aden serves as a vital shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. However, the region off the coast of Yemen has become a high-risk area due to the ongoing conflict between the Houthi group and US and British forces.
Recent months have seen an escalation in Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, purportedly in response to Israeli strikes in Gaza. In retaliation, the US and UK have launched airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, but these actions have only escalated tensions rather than deterring the rebels.