Drone Activity and Possible Explosion Reported in Red Sea’s Bab al-Mandab Strait
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) recently reported drone activity and a potential explosion in the Bab al-Mandab strait, located in the Red Sea. According to the agency, the drone activity is believed to have originated from Yemen, and cautionary measures have been advised to vessels navigating the area.
While Reuters attempted to verify the reports, confirmation was not immediately obtained. This incident follows a string of attacks that have occurred in Middle Eastern waters since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7th.
The Houthi group, which backs Iran and controls Yemen’s Red Sea coast, has previously targeted Israeli vessels using ballistic missiles and armed drones. Just last month, the Houthi group seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship. As of now, the Houthis have not commented on the recent incident reported in the Bab al-Mandab strait.
In a separate incident, in the Gulf of Aden, a distress call from an Israeli-managed commercial tanker seized by armed individuals prompted a response from a U.S. Navy warship. Further details regarding this particular situation are still awaited.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, maritime authorities are closely monitoring the situation and advising vessels to exercise extra caution while traveling through these waters. Given the recent conflicts and acts of aggression in the area, it is crucial for maritime operators to remain vigilant and updated on the evolving situation to ensure the safety of their crew and vessels.
Swerd Media will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds.
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