Israel-Hamas war: Yemeni plane catches fire due to missile attack
Last updated: February 22, 2024, 15:02 IST
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Recent US overnight strikes hit six provinces of Yemen held by Houthi rebels, including the capital Sanaa (Photo: Representative/AP)
A ship in the Gulf of Aden was hit by missiles, causing a fire amid global shipping disruptions
A missile strike on Thursday targeted a ship passing through the Gulf of Aden, causing a fire on board, two maritime agencies said, the latest in a series of attacks that have disrupted global shipping.
“A ship was attacked by two missiles, resulting in a fire on board,” United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said, adding that coalition forces are responding.
Security firm Ambre also reported a fire on board a Palau-flagged, British-owned general cargo ship after two missile attacks southeast of Aden, Yemen. “It appears the ship was coming from Map Ta Phut, Thailand and was heading towards the Red Sea,” Embrey said.
“Merchant shipping is advised to stay away from the vessel and proceed with caution,” it said. There was no immediate claim for the attack, but it followed a series of attacks on commercial ships by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The Houthis say the attacks are to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war. The attacks have prompted some shipping companies to detour to southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, which normally carries about 12 percent of global maritime trade.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development warned late last month that the volume of commercial traffic passing through the Suez Canal had fallen by more than 40 percent in the past two months.