Missile event in Hodeidah, Port Salif area, Yemen on Mon 11th March 2024

An explosion was heard near a vessel off the Red Sea coast of Yemen on Monday, a British maritime security agency said, adding that both the vessel and crew were safe.

The ship “reported a sound of an explosion in the vicinity of the vessel” southwest of the Yemeni port of Salif, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said, noting that US-led coalition forces were investigating.

Security firm Ambrey said it was “aware of a ‘missile’-related incident west of” the port city of Hodeidah, but did not elaborate.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for any attack.

But Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia, who control the capital Sanaa and much of the country’s Red Sea coast, has launched a flurry of attacks against ships since November, a campaign they say is in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza war.

The attacks have sent insurance costs spiraling for vessels plying the key trade route and prompted many shipping firms to take the far longer passage around the southern tip of Africa instead.

Since January, the United States and Britain have also launched repeated strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the ship attacks.

The strikes have not thwarted the Houthis, who have continued to attack merchant vessels, having since declared American and British ships legitimate targets.