On November 17, 2024, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations announced it had received reports of an incident occurring 25 nautical miles off the coast of Mokha, Yemen.

In a statement published on its official website, the authority noted that investigations into the incident are ongoing but did not provide further details.

The agency advised passing vessels to exercise caution and report any "suspicious" activity to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.

Since October, the Houthi group, which is internationally designated as a terrorist organization, has intensified its attacks using missiles and drones against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden.

These assaults have led to increased marine insurance costs and prompted many international shipping companies to opt for significantly longer routes around the southern tip of the African continent.

In response to the Houthi threat, the "Prosperity Guard" coalition, led by the United States with significant British involvement, began conducting airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen in January 2024. The group has since expanded its operations to target vessels associated with Washington and London.