On Tuesday morning, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization received a report concerning a small watercraft observed circling a vessel in the Red Sea, approximately 57 nautical miles northwest of Assab in Eritrea.
According to UKMTO's advisory note, the vessel and its crew are confirmed to be safe and are continuing their journey to the next port. The incident was resolved as security personnel aboard the ship discharged warning shots, prompting the small craft to depart the area.
Ongoing tensions in the region have been exacerbated by the Yemen-based Houthi militants, who are backed by Iran. The group has intensified its attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea as a form of protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. Consequently, several shipping lines have opted to suspend operations and take longer routes around Africa to ensure the safety of their vessels.
In a development on Monday, an official from the Houthi movement declared their intention to broaden the scope of their targets in the Red Sea, explicitly including U.S. ships. This announcement follows U.S. and British military strikes
