It is the latest attack by Houthi rebels on merchant ships in this vital sea route.
The attack took place off the port of Mocha in Yemen, the United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations Agency (UKMTO) said.
UKMTO said the ship was damaged in the attack, but its crew is safe and on its way to another port. UKMTO has warned vessels in the vicinity of the incident to be cautious.
The UKMTO announced that there had been an “explosion near a merchant vessel”, adding that “the vessel and crew are safe”.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the Greek-owned bulker Cyclades, flying the Maltese flag, had been damaged. Troops also shot down a drone that flew toward the USS Philippine Sea and USS Laboon, the military said Tuesday.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, a spokesman for the Houthi forces, said in a statement early Tuesday morning that the attack was carried out on the Cyclades and targeted US warships.
At the time, Italy’s defense ministry said on Monday that its frigate Virgino Fasan shot down a Houthi drone that morning near the Bab el Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
“The missile exploded in the water near the escort vessel, causing only minor surface damage,” the Italian defense ministry said, without naming the escorted merchant vessel. “The frigate Fasan and the guarded merchant ship are continuing south as planned to exit the Red Sea.”
Y. Saree did not claim responsibility for the attack, although he said that Houthi soldiers also targeted a ship in the Indian Ocean. There was no direct report or evidence to support this claim.
The Houthis say their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are aimed at pressuring Israel to end its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 34,000 people. Palestinians.
The October 7 attack by Hamas killed 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to Israel.
In the attack, Hamas militants took about 250 hostages, 129 of whom Israel says are still in the Gaza Strip, including 34 dead.
Since November, the Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on ships, hijacking one ship and sinking another, according to the US Maritime Administration.
Houthi attacks have decreased in recent weeks as the United States and other allies conducted airstrikes against several Houthi positions in Yemen. The insurgent threat has reduced shipping in the Red Sea.
American officials have speculated that the Houthi rebels may be running out of weapons because of the US-led campaign against them and months of constant drone and missile attacks. However, Houthi rebels resumed attacks last week. The US military shot down five drones over the Red Sea early Sunday morning, CENTCOM said.
The drones “posed a direct threat to US, coalition and merchant shipping in the region,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
The Houthis said on Saturday that they had shot down another US MQ-9 Reaper drone and showed footage on television that appeared to show the wreckage of the drone.
US Defense Department spokesman and Air Force Colonel Bryon J. McGarry admitted to the AP news agency on Saturday that “a US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone has crashed in Yemen.” He said an investigation was underway but did not provide further details.
