The British Navy has reported that a cargo ship has been hit off the southwestern coast of Yemen by "multiple projectiles" of yet undetermined origin, which has caused the "total loss" of the ship. Authorities have specified that the vessel was sailing without a crew at the time of the impact.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO, for its acronym in English) has indicated, citing local sources, that "A cargo ship has been hit by multiple unknown projectiles" and has placed the incident "40 nautical miles (74 kilometers) southeast of Mocha," in the southwest of the country.
The maritime authority has reiterated that the ship "had no crew at the time of the incident." "However, the damages have caused a total loss," detailed the agency, which has urged other vessels transiting the area "to navigate with caution and report any suspicious activity to the UKMTO."
Hours earlier, the military spokesman for the Houthi rebels, Yahya Sari, had claimed on social media an attack "with several ballistic missiles" against a "landing ship of the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and four warships accompanying it in the Red Sea, off the coast of Mocha."
According to his version, "The attack has been precise and direct, which has caused the total destruction of the landing ship and the sinking of several of the warships, while the rest of the vessels have been burned."
In this context, Sari has emphasized that Houthi forces "are closely monitoring all movements and concentrations of Saudi troops and will attack those movements and concentrations, whether on land or at sea." He also added that "They remain committed to the principle of 'siege by siege' and will continue to attack all concentrations of Saudi troops wherever they may be."