Crew Abandons Attacked Vessel in the Red Sea

A ship flying the Liberian flag has been evacuated by its crew after coming under attack by armed individuals in the Red Sea, off the coast of Yemen, according to reports from British military authorities. The vessel began taking on water following the incident.

News agency AP reports that the attackers used rocket-propelled grenades during the assault. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors maritime security, stated that an armed security team on board the ship returned fire. The situation was described as ongoing at the time of their initial report.

Authorities are currently investigating the incident. Later updates from UKMTO indicated that the vessel caught fire after being struck by unidentified projectiles.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The incident occurred approximately 100 kilometers southwest of the Yemeni port city of Hodeida, an area under the control of the Houthi movement. The Red Sea has seen increased security concerns in recent years due to regional conflicts and threats to commercial shipping.