Ambrey, a British maritime security company, said that a merchant ship reported a missile strike on its vessel while it was en route from Malaysia to Venice in Italy. The vessel had been traveling 129 nautical mile east of Yemen’s Aden.

Ambrey stated that it assessed the vessel as being aligned with "the Houthi Target Profile."

Since November, Houthis allied with Iran have targeted international shipping in the Red Sea area in solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel and Hamas. In a separate attack, they have sunk a ship, taken over another vessel and killed three sailors.

The group controls Yemen’s capital city and the most populous areas.

On Wednesday, militants from Yemen attacked the United States

Take responsibility

Small watercraft and missiles attacks caused a Greek cargo ship to take on water near the Yemeni port of Hodeidah and need rescue.

Separately the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO), said that it had received a report about an incident 98 NM to the east of Aden. (Reporting and editing by Toby Chopra; Nayera Abdallah)