A cargo ship reported an attack in the Red Sea on Sunday about 30 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The vessel sent a distress alert stating that it had been attacked by unknown armed assailants off Al Hudaydah. UKMTO said authorities are investigating the incident and advised vessels in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incident comes as maritime security concerns continue off Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthis have threatened to resume attacks on ships, although they have not been carrying out attacks.
UKMTO also reported suspected piracy incidents south of Balhaf, Yemen, on 1 July.
In one incident, suspected pirates attacked a vessel 76 nautical miles south of Balhaf. Four armed men in a small craft caused damage to the bridge and several nearby compartments. Crew members mustered in the citadel after the vessel was approached by the craft, which was carrying four pirates armed with a rocket-propelled grenade. All seafarers on board were reported safe following the illegal boarding.
In another incident on the same day, the master of a tanker reported that a small craft approached the vessel on the port quarter at a distance of two nautical miles, about 85 nautical miles south of Balhaf. The craft later left the area and proceeded south. The crew was reported safe, and the tanker continued its voyage. The incident remains under investigation.
