Houthi Rebels Blamed for Explosion Near Ship in Red Sea

A ship in the Red Sea avoided damage when an explosion took place near it on Monday.

Yemen's Houthi rebels are believed to be behind the blast.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it happened about 71 nautical miles southwest of Saleef, Yemen.

The ship's master reported the sound of an explosion in the vicinity of the vessel. The crew was reported to be safe after the incident.

Coalition Forces were investigating the incident and other vessels were advised to use caution in the area and report any suspicious activity.

The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack, according to the Associated Press but the group can take several hours to take responsibility for attacks.

One of the rebel group's missiles hit a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden last week. Three crew members were killed in the attack and the rest of the crew had to abandon the ship.

Another cargo ship sank after an attack last month.

The Houthi say they started the attacks to pressure Israel to stop its attack on Hamas but their targets increasingly have little or nothing to do with that conflict.

The Red Sea separates the coasts of Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea on one side and Saudi Arabia and Yemen on the other side.

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