Cairo: British security firm Ambrey reported on Sunday that a general cargo ship flagged under Antigua and Barbuda was hit by a missile 83 nautical miles southeast of Yemen’s Aden. The vessel caught fire, but the blaze was subsequently contained.

Previously, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had received a report from a vessel captain regarding an incident 80 nautical miles southeast of Aden.

The Houthi militia, which controls large areas of Yemen and is supported by Iran, has been attacking ships off its coast for several months. They claim these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel in Gaza.

Ambrey’s advisory note detailed the incident, stating, “The ship was heading southwest along the Gulf of Aden at a speed of 8.2 knots when the forward station was struck by a missile. A fire started but was neutralized.”

The note added, “A second missile was sighted but did not hit the ship. Individuals on small boats nearby opened fire on the ship during the incident.”

Following the attack, the ship altered its course to port and increased its speed. Ambrey confirmed that “no injuries were reported.”

Houthi fighters have been targeting the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden with drone and missile strikes, leading shippers since November to opt for longer and more expensive routes around southern Africa.