Blasts reported near ship in Red Sea off Yemen

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Maritime security agencies reported two explosions on Monday near a ship in the Red Sea off Yemen, where Iran-backed Huthi rebels have attacked shipping in what they call support for Gaza Palestinians.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), run by the British navy, said a captain reported "an explosion in close proximity" to his merchant ship.

A second explosion followed, and the captain reported no damage and that "all crew are reported to be safe".

It was the first attack on shipping reported by the UKMTO since US B-2 heavy bombers hit multiple Huthi targets including weapons storage facilities on October 17.

At the time, the Houthis said the attack would "not pass without a response".

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which took place 25 nautical miles south of the Yemeni city of Mokha.

Maritime security firm Ambrey also reported two blasts near a merchant ship, adding that the vessel had "a private armed security team" on board.

The Huthis, part of the "axis of resistance" of Iran-aligned groups, have targeted ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since last November in what they describe as support for Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.

The attacks have seriously disrupted the Red Sea route which carries 12 percent of global trade, triggering reprisal strikes by the United States and Britain against rebel targets in Yemen.

In more than 100 Houthi attacks over nearly a year, four sailors have been killed and two ships have sunk, while one vessel and its crew remain detained since being hijacked last November. — Agence France-Presse