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Merchant ship attacked off Yemen coast


A merchant ship has been attacked in the Red Sea, an area where Yemen-based Houthi rebels have been targeting ships since late last year.
A merchant ship has been attacked in the Red Sea, an area where Yemen-based Houthi rebels have been targeting ships since late last year.

Maritime security agencies say a merchant ship has been attacked in the Red Sea, an area where Yemen-based Houthi rebels have been targeting ships since late last year.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said Wednesday it received a report of the ship being struck in the rear by a “small craft” measuring 5-7 meters in length.

The security firm Ambrey said the attack happened about 125 kilometers southwest of the Yemeni port city of Hodeida.

There was no word on damage or casualties.

The Houthis say their campaign of attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza amid the war between Israel and Hamas.

The attacks have forced commercial shipping firms to reroute traffic from the area and use a longer and more expensive route around the African continent.

Some information for this report was provided by Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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