The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Friday evening, August 30, 2024, that it had received a report of a maritime incident off the coast of Aden, southern Yemen.

In a brief statement posted on X, seen by Barran Press, the UK agency stated that they received a report of an incident 130 nautical miles east of Aden.

The UKMTO did not provide further details in its statement but indicated that authorities are still investigating the incident.

Since November 2023, the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, has continued its attacks using missiles and drones against commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

These attacks have led to increased maritime insurance costs and prompted many international shipping companies to opt for the much longer route around the southern tip of the African continent.

To deter the Houthis and protect maritime navigation, the United States formed a multinational coalition in December 2023. US forces have been conducting strikes against Houthi military targets intermittently.

Since January 12, the number of US and British airstrikes against the Houthis on the ground has reached approximately 570, resulting in the deaths of 58 individuals and injuries to 86 others, according to the group's own admission.

The internationally recognized Yemeni government maintains that Western strikes are ineffective in neutralizing the Houthi threat to navigation and that the most effective solution is to support its armed forces in retaking Hodeidah and its ports, as well as other areas under Houthi control.

Despite the group's continued adoption of maritime attacks, only four out of 170 ships that they claim to have targeted since November have experienced serious incidents or damage.