Vessel and Crew Safe after Incident Southwest of Yemen's Mokha, UKMTO Says

Houthi supporters brandish weapons during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 28 June 2024. (EPA)
Houthi supporters brandish weapons during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 28 June 2024. (EPA)
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Vessel and Crew Safe after Incident Southwest of Yemen's Mokha, UKMTO Says

Houthi supporters brandish weapons during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 28 June 2024. (EPA)
Houthi supporters brandish weapons during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 28 June 2024. (EPA)

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday it had received a report of an incident 13 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's al-Mokha, but that the vessel and its crew were safe.

An UKMTO advisory note said a merchant vessel had reported being approached by 12 small craft which remained in the vicinity of the vessel for about an hour before leaving the area.

The vessel and crew were reported safe, and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call, the advisory note added.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militias have been launching drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes since November, saying that it acts in solidarity with Palestinians in Israel's war in Gaza.

In dozens of attacks, the Houthis have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least three seafarers.



Israel Says It Killed Hezbollah Operative in Eastern Lebanon

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Israeli shelling in the southern Lebanese village of Dhayra on July 4, 2024. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Israeli shelling in the southern Lebanese village of Dhayra on July 4, 2024. (AFP)
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Israel Says It Killed Hezbollah Operative in Eastern Lebanon

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Israeli shelling in the southern Lebanese village of Dhayra on July 4, 2024. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Israeli shelling in the southern Lebanese village of Dhayra on July 4, 2024. (AFP)

Israel's army said on Saturday it killed a key operative in Hezbollah's Aerial Defense Unit in eastern Lebanon, accusing him of carrying out numerous attacks against Israelis.

In a statement, the army identified the Hezbollah member as Meitham Mustafa al-Attar, saying that he had visited Iran several times, "where he gained knowledge and assisted in building up Hezbollah's force and arsenal of Iranian weapons."

Lebanese state media said al-Attar's car was attacked in a drone strike in the town of Shaath, north of Lebanon's eastern city of Baalbek.

Hezbollah confirmed the killing of the 33-year-old but did not specify his role in the movement.

The Iran-backed group and Israel have been trading fire for nearly nine months in hostilities that have played out in parallel to the Gaza conflict, raising fears of an all-out war between the heavily armed adversaries.

Hezbollah has said its campaign of rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel has aimed to support Palestinians under Israeli bombardment in Gaza.