"UKMTO has received a report of an incident 85NM east of Aden, Yemen. The Master of a merchant vessel has reported an explosion in close proximity to the vessel. No damage to the vessel has been reported and the crew are reported safe … Authorities are investigating," UKMTO said on its website.
The maritime authority also advised ships to pass through the area with caution and report any suspicious activity.
The Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, which controls large parts of northern and western Yemen, vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. This led the United States to announce the creation of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the Red Sea. US and UK forces later launched major strikes against Houthi positions in a bid to degrade the rebels' ability to target commercial vessels.