On November 18, 2024, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that a commercial vessel was targeted in a missile attack off the coast of Aden, just hours after a similar incident near Mocha, western Yemen.

In a statement released on its official website, the authority noted that the ship's captain reported a missile falling close to the vessel, approximately 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden. Fortunately, the ship and its crew are safe and are heading to the nearest port.

The previous evening, the authority had received reports of an incident occurring 25 nautical miles west of Mocha, where the same vessel's captain indicated a missile landed nearby.

The British Maritime Authority has advised passing ships to navigate with caution and to report any "suspicious" activity to the UK maritime authorities.

Since October, the Houthi group, which is internationally classified as a terrorist organization, has increased its missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden. These assaults have raised marine insurance costs and prompted many international shipping companies to opt for significantly longer routes around the southern tip of Africa.

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