DUBAI: The crew of a commercial vessel in the Red Sea off Yemen was forced to abandon ship Sunday (Jul 6) after it was hit by rocket-propelled grenades and other ordnance in the latest attack in the vital shipping lane, monitors said.
The incident occurred 51 nautical miles (94 kilometres) southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in its initial bulletin, later reporting a fire on board after the ship was hit by unknown projectiles.
The monitor, which is run by Britain’s Royal Navy, subsequently said a security officer reported “all crew have now abandoned ship and are awaiting assistance”.
UKMTO had previously said the ship was attacked by several skiffs.
“The vessel has been engaged by multiple small vessels who have opened fire with small arms and self-propelled grenades. (The) armed security team have returned fire and situation is ongoing,” it said.
UK-based security firm Ambrey earlier reported that the merchant ship was struck by two naval drones, “damaging the vessel’s cargo”, while two other unmanned vessels were repelled.
Hodeidah is controlled by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, and though no one has claimed responsibility for the assault, Ambrey said the vessel matched “the established Houthi target profile”.
Earlier Ambrey reported the ship “was approached and attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea”.
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