At least three seafarers have been killed in a Houthi missile attack on a merchant ship with a crew of 20 members, including Sri Lankans, in the Gulf of Aden, it was reported.
According to foreign media, two Sri Lankan and one Nepalese armed guards were also reported to be on board the vessel.
Al Jazeera reported that the Iran-aligned Yemeni group claimed responsibility for the attack on Wednesday, which set the Liberian-owned, Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence ablaze approximately 50 nautical miles (93km) off the coast of Yemen’s port of Aden.
The US military’s Central Command reported “three fatalities, at least four injuries, of which three are in critical condition” as well as “significant damage to the ship”.
Two aerial photos released by the US military showed the ship’s bridge and cargo on board ablaze.
The attack marks the first fatalities reported since the Iran-aligned Yemeni group began attacks against shipping in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes over Israel’s war on Gaza. (NewsWire)