Trade ship Heading to Bulgaria Through Red Sea Strait attacked by Houthi Terrorists

A cargo ship bound for Varna has been attacked by Houthi terrorists, BPE reports, citing Reuters and British maritime security company Ambrey.

The Belizean-flagged vessel was sailing from the United Arab Emirates to a Bulgarian port when it was attacked in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

An explosion was reportedly detected near the general cargo vessel, and it briefly veered off course, but then continued on its route. The explosion caused damage, but the crew was not injured.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Office (UKMTO) reported that it had received a report of an incident 35 nautical miles south of Yemen's Al Mukha and that an explosion in the vicinity of the vessel had caused damage, but the vessel was not identified.

However, it was later reported that the crew had abandoned the anchored vessel.

"Military authorities are advising that the crew have abandoned ship," UKMTO said in an update on Monday morning, adding that the vessel was at anchor and all crew were safe.

Since mid-November, Yemeni Houthi terrorists have repeatedly fired drones and missiles at merchant ships from around the world in the Red Sea, claiming to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Hamas terrorists and the state of Israel. 

As The Gaze previously reported, the Council of Europe has launched the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES military operation today. European Union foreign ministers approved the deployment of the EU naval mission to protect ships from Houthis in the Red Sea. The aim of this defensive maritime operation is to restore and protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.