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.



KSrelief Masam Project Helps Clear 614 Explosives in Yemen in a Week

Since the project's inception, a total of 470,416 explosives have been cleared in Yemen. - SPA
Since the project's inception, a total of 470,416 explosives have been cleared in Yemen. - SPA
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KSrelief Masam Project Helps Clear 614 Explosives in Yemen in a Week

Since the project's inception, a total of 470,416 explosives have been cleared in Yemen. - SPA
Since the project's inception, a total of 470,416 explosives have been cleared in Yemen. - SPA

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center's (KSrelief) Masam Project, dedicated to clearing explosives in Yemen, successfully dismantled 840 items during the third week of November.

The removal included 682 unexploded ordnance items, 129 anti-tank mines, and 29 anti-personnel mines, SPA reported.
Since the project's inception, a total of 470,416 explosives have been cleared in Yemen.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains committed to removing all explosives from Yemeni territory, as they pose a significant risk of loss of life and injury to innocent people.