A merchant ship in the Red Sea was hit by a drone attack, which was probably carried out by the Yemeni Houthi rebels, reported the Associated press, referring to a message from the British Maritime Trade Agency, quoted by BTA.
The attack happened at a time when the US Navy decided to send the aircraft carrier "Dwight D. Eisenhower" back to the US. For eight months, he participated in actions against Houthi attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea.
Actions by Yemeni rebels have led to a drastic restriction of shipping on a route that is crucial for Asian, Middle Eastern and European markets, AP notes.
Today's attack took place at dawn off the coast of the rebel-held port city of Hodeidah, the British Maritime Trade Agency said in a statement. There is damage to the ship, but everyone on board is safe, the statement added, without specifying the extent of the damage.
The British maritime security company "Ambri" identified the vessel in question as a Liberian-flagged container ship bound for the Chinese port city of Qingdao.
So far, the Houthis have not commented on the case.
Yemen rebels began attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea in November and have framed their campaign as a show of solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Since then, they have carried out over 60 attacks on specific vessels, capturing one ship and sinking two more. A total of four sailors died in the Yemeni rebel attacks.
In response, the US led a naval coalition that has been conducting airstrikes against Yemeni rebel targets since January.
The US aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, which is based at Naval Base Norfolk, Virginia, is returning home after a more than eight-month deployment, which the Navy says is its most tangible military engagement since World War II world war here.
It will be replaced by the US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, based in San Diego, California, which today anchored in the South Korean port of Pusan to take part in naval exercises amid ongoing tensions between Seoul and North Korea. .
After the maneuvers were over "Theodore Roosevelt" will sail to the Red Sea.