After the MV Verbena caught fire and the Totor sustained damage from Houthi attacks in recent days, the UK Maritime Trade Operations has reported a new incident. In a brief statement on Sunday, it mentioned that it received a report about an event 40 nautical miles south of Al-Mokha in Yemen, but did not provide further details, noting that authorities are investigating the incident.
The fire on the MV Verbena, a cargo vessel owned by Ukraine and operated by Poland, flying a Palauan flag, resulted from two separate missile attacks carried out by the Houthi group, leading to onboard fires. This follows the Houthis claiming responsibility for an attack on the Totor, a commercial vessel, using a drone boat along with several drones and ballistic missiles in the Red Sea last Wednesday evening.
Moreover, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed in a statement on Saturday evening the fire on the Verbena, adding that the Iranian frigate Jamaran was eight nautical miles from the vessel and did not respond to the distress call.
