Ship damaged in attack near Yemen, some crew put on lifeboats

A merchant vessel has been damaged in an attack south of Yemen and coalition forces are supporting it, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reports.

British security firm Ambrey reports that the ship was damaged and some crew are being loaded into lifeboats.

“Ambrey observed an Indian Navy military vessel drifting in the vicinity of the last known position of the affected vessel. Further reports stated that rescue and salvage operations were underway,” it says.

The attack Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden targeted a US-owned Barbados-flagged bulk carrier called True Confidence, which earlier had been hailed over radio by individuals claiming to be the Yemeni military, officials said. The Houthis have been hailing ships over the radio in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since launching their attacks, with analysts suspecting the rebels want to seize the vessels.

The Houthis do not immediately claim the attack, though it typically takes several hours for them to acknowledge an assault.