Vessel Near Yemen Said to Report Drones, Explosions in Red Sea 

A boat is anchored on the beach of the Arabian Sea near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in the port city of Aden, Yemen, 22 December 2023 (issued 24 December 2023). (EPA)
A boat is anchored on the beach of the Arabian Sea near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in the port city of Aden, Yemen, 22 December 2023 (issued 24 December 2023). (EPA)
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Vessel Near Yemen Said to Report Drones, Explosions in Red Sea 

A boat is anchored on the beach of the Arabian Sea near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in the port city of Aden, Yemen, 22 December 2023 (issued 24 December 2023). (EPA)
A boat is anchored on the beach of the Arabian Sea near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in the port city of Aden, Yemen, 22 December 2023 (issued 24 December 2023). (EPA)

Two explosions in the Red Sea were reported by a vessel sailing off the coast of Yemen on Tuesday shortly after two unmanned aircraft were sighted, a British maritime authority said.

The explosions occurred around 5 miles from the vessel in an area of the Red Sea 50 miles from the port of Hodeidah on Yemen's west coast, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in an advisory.

The identity of the vessel, details of the cargo onboard or where it was sailing to or had sailed from were not disclosed.

The UKMTO said the vessel was in contact with coalition forces and that the vessel and crew had been reported safe.

The vessel was said to be continuing its voyage.

The reported incident comes a week after the United States announced a multinational maritime security initiative in the Red Sea in response to attacks on vessels by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militias.

The militias have attacked commercial vessels sailing the sea since October, a campaign they say is in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza besieged by Israel.

The militias have said they are targeting Israeli-linked vessels and those heading to Israel, warning shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports. Several shipping lines have suspended operations through the Red Sea waterway in response to the attacks, instead taking the longer journey around Africa.

The Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks until Israeli halts the war and warned that they would attack US warships if they themselves were targeted.

The Houthis have also since fired drones and missiles towards southern Israel.



Israel Carries Out Several Attacks in Southern Lebanon

A picture taken from the southern Lebanese region of Marjayoun, shows the destruction in Khiam on November 28, 2024, a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. (AFP)
A picture taken from the southern Lebanese region of Marjayoun, shows the destruction in Khiam on November 28, 2024, a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. (AFP)
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Israel Carries Out Several Attacks in Southern Lebanon

A picture taken from the southern Lebanese region of Marjayoun, shows the destruction in Khiam on November 28, 2024, a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. (AFP)
A picture taken from the southern Lebanese region of Marjayoun, shows the destruction in Khiam on November 28, 2024, a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. (AFP)

The Israeli army carried out several attacks in southern Lebanon on Friday, the third day of the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, Lebanon’s state media said.

Artillery bombardment struck the villages of Markaba, Talusa and Khiyam while four Israeli tanks moved into the western part of Khiam, the report said, adding that an Israeli tank fired at a house in Nabatiyeh province.

Local media also reported that the Israeli army fired on civilians in the nearby village of Bint Jbeil. No casualties were immediately reported and The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the claims.

Israel’s military said it struck an area in southern Lebanon where it detected movement of a Hezbollah rocket launcher on Friday.

In the statement on the airstrike, the military said it would “actively enforce violations of the ceasefire agreement.”

There was no immediate comment from the Lebanese army, which has accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire several times since it came into effect.