WASHINGTON/SANAA: The Pentagon said on Sunday it was aware of reports regarding attacks on an American warship and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the Associated Press reported.
"We're aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available," the Pentagon was quoted as saying in the report.
Iran denies involvement in Red Sea ship seizure by Yemen’s Houthis
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Maritime security sources on Sunday said that a bulk carrier ship had been hit by at least two drones while sailing in the Red Sea.
Yemen rebels claim attacks on two ships in Red Sea
,Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels on Sunday said they had attacked two ships off the Yemeni coast, adding the "Israeli" vessels were targeted over the war in Gaza.
In a statement posted on social media, the Huthis said they carried out an "operation against two Israeli ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait," a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, targeting the first with a "missile and the second ship with a drone"
The Huthis identified the vessels as Unity Explorer and Number Nine, saying the attack came after the two ships "rejected warning messages" from its forces.
Israeli-owned ship hit in suspected Iran drone attack: US defence official
The Huthis said they would continue to target Israeli vessels "until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops".
A US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "we're aware of reports regarding attacks on the (US Navy's) USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available."
Earlier on Sunday, maritime security firm Ambrey said, citing reports, that an unnamed Bahamas-flagged vessel was "struck by a rocket" while sailing south around 35 nautical miles off Yemen's western coast.
"The affected vessel was issuing distress calls relating to piracy/missile attack," the UK-based company added.
Yemen’s Houthis say they seized Israeli vessel, Israel denies
It noted reports that "an international naval asset in the vicinity of the incident" was likely proceeding to the ship's location.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency, run by Britain's Royal Navy, said it had received "a report of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) activity including a potential explosion... originating from the direction of Yemen".
It advised vessels in the area to "exercise caution".
The latest incidents come amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea and surrounding waters after Iran-backed Huthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo vessel, the Galaxy Leader, last month.
Within days two ballistic missiles were also launched from an area controlled by the Yemeni rebels, landing around 10 nautical miles from a US destroyer, the USS Mason, according to the Pentagon.
The Huthis have fired a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since Hamas militants poured over the border into Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 240.
In response, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and began an air, sea and ground offensive that has killed more than 15,500 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
The spike in maritime incidents prompted G7 foreign ministers at a meeting earlier this week to urge the rebels to cease threats to international shipping and to release the Galaxy Leader.
In the latest apparent attack, Ambrey said the targeted vessel -- en route from the United States to Singapore -- had transited the Suez Canal five days ago.
"The bulker was reportedly struck by a rocket and the crew retreated to the citadel," it added.
"Numerous vessels passed the incident location today but no unusual manoeuvres were observed."
Ambrey said the attacked vessel's ownership and management was linked to Dan David Ungar, a British citizen listed as an Israeli resident in Britain's main companies directory.
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