Trade Ship Reports Explosion Off The Beach Of Aden Yemen In The Houthi Region

JAKARTA - The merchant ship reported an explosion about 126 nautical miles east of Aden port in Yemen.

"The crew was reportedly safe and the ship continued its journey to the next port," the UK Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO) said.

UKMTO did not identify the ship. It is known that the Yemeni Houthi militant group launched drone and missile attacks on the main waterway since November as a form of solidarity with Palestinian militants in Gaza.

In more than 70 attacks, the group sank two ships, seized another ship and killed three sailors.

As previously reported, Greek coal-carrying vessels capsized in the Red Sea days after being attacked by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, according to a report published by the UK Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO).

Reported by CNN, Wednesday, June 19, MV Tutor is thought to be the second ship to be sunk by the Houthis since March, when the British-listed Rubymar ship was shot down after being hit by a ballistic missile fired from Yemen's Houthi region.

Houthi rebels launched dozens of missile and drone attacks aimed at ships in the Red Sea and Aden Bay since Israel launched an invasion of Gaza following the Hamas-led October 7 attack.

Since then, tensions have risen in the Middle East, and major actors in the region strongly condemn the humanitarian crisis caused by Israeli bombings in Gaza for more than eight months.

Tutor was first hit on June 12 by a smaller boat before being hit for the second time by an unknown air projectile, according to UKMTO.

One of the crew members was reported missing following the attack, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said last week.

After the entire crew was evacuated from the ship, the ship began to drift before it was reported to have sunk on Tuesday, June 18, according to UKMTO.