Several Explosions Occur in Red Sea Shipping Route Near Yemen's Coasts

A British maritime agency reported on Tuesday the sighting of several drones and missiles in two separate incidents in the Red Sea, followed by explosions near Yemen's coasts. According to Reuters, the British Maritime Trade Operations office stated that two explosions occurred 5 nautical miles from a ship that was 50 nautical miles west of Hodeidah on Yemen's western coast, and prior to these explosions, two unmanned aerial vehicles were observed flying. The agency noted that in another incident, explosions were heard 4 nautical miles from a ship that was 60 nautical miles from Hodeidah, and missiles were also seen. The British agency did not specify whether these two incidents pertained to the same ship or involved different vessels. Details about the cargo or any indication of the origin and destination of the ship or ships were also not reported. Reports indicate that in both incidents, the ship and crew are safe. The British agency also did not disclose where the reported drones or missiles were fired from, and no group or country immediately claimed responsibility for their launch. The Houthis control large areas of Yemen and have reportedly received weapons and military advice from the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, following an initial report that an Israeli-linked commercial ship was targeted by a drone attack off the coast of India over the weekend, the Indian Navy is set to deploy missile-equipped destroyers in the Arabian Sea as a deterrent. The Indian Navy stated that it is investigating the nature of the attack on the ship that docked in Mumbai on Monday. An Indian official mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government takes the drone attack on the MV Kam Pluto and a previous attack on the oil tanker MV Sai Baba in the Red Sea very seriously. The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Monday dismissed the U.S. claim that the Islamic Republic carried out the attack on the MV Kam Pluto near India as baseless. Two security sources told Reuters that a drone was shot down on Tuesday near the tourist city of Dahab in Egypt in the Red Sea. This was the second similar incident reported from Egypt in a month. Security sources could not confirm the origin of the drone. Israel announced earlier in November that after drones caused explosions in two cities in Egypt, the Houthi rebels of Yemen, supported by the Islamic Republic, had launched drones to attack Israeli territory. Security sources stated that earlier in December, Egyptian air defense shot down another drone near Dahab. A drone attack on an Israeli-linked ship near the western coast of India. The U.S.: The Islamic Republic is extensively involved in attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The Wall Street Journal: An Iranian spy ship aids Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. More than 20 countries have joined the U.S. coalition to protect ships in the Red Sea.