Merchant ship hit by small vessel in Red Sea, UKMTO says

DUBAI: A

merchant ship

which reported an incident in the

Red Sea

on Wednesday was struck by a small craft, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.
The vessel has sustained damage in what appeared to be a deliberate attack, two maritime sources said on condition of anonymity, adding that the engine room was hit.
The incident took place approximately 67.7 nautical miles southwest of

Yemen

's port of

Hodeidah

, British security firm

Ambrey

said.
"The vessel aligned with the Houthi target profile at the time of the incident," Ambrey said in an advisory note.
The ship's

Greek manager

was not immediately available for comment.
Houthi militants

, who control Yemen's capital and most populous areas, have attacked international shipping in the Red Sea region since November in solidarity with the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas, drawing retaliatory U.S. and British strikes since February.