Two maritime security agencies reported explosions near two merchant ships off the coast of Yemen, specifying that no one was injured and no damage was caused, France Press reported.
The first ship reported a "explosion nearby" next to it, which was felt about 64 nautical miles (over 118 km) southwest of the Yemeni city of Hodeidah, controlled by the Houthi rebels, Britain's Maritime Security Agency said. The vessel then spotted a "small boat behaving suspiciously" and heard a second explosion.
According to the British agency, the ship was "attacked by a drone which was successfully neutralized". "The ship and crew are safe and in good condition and the ship is proceeding to its next port,", according to the same source.
According to the Joint Maritime Information Center of the Western Naval Coalition, the ship is the Liberian-flagged oil tanker "Delta Atlantica".
British maritime security company Ambry also reported the explosion and noted that this vessel was "closely linked to Houthi targets".
No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but it is reminiscent of those carried out since November by Iran-backed rebels in Yemen, who say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians amid the Gaza-led war from the attack of "Hamas" against Israel on October 7, AFP recalls.
The Joint Maritime Information Center also reported that another oil tanker, the Panamanian-flagged One Phoenix, was also the target of an attempted attack in the Red Sea last night. The two British agencies report an explosion "nearby" to the ship, 97 nautical miles (over 179 km) northwest of Hodeidah, which caused no injuries or damage.
The US Middle East Command said last night that it had "successfully destroyed two Iranian-backed Houthi vessels in the Red Sea," without elaborating. "These vessels posed a clear and immediate threat to US and coalition forces, as well as merchant shipping in the region,", according to the statement.