United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said that a small boat struck a merchant ship who reported an incident on Wednesday in the Red Sea.

Two maritime sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that there was damage to the vessel in what seemed like a deliberate assault. They added that it appeared as if the engine room had been hit.

Ambrey, a British security company, said that the incident occurred approximately 67.7 miles south-west of Yemen's Hodeidah port.

Ambrey stated in a note of advice that "the vessel was aligned to the Houthi targets at the time the incident occurred."

The Greek ship's manager was not available to comment immediately.

Since November, Houthi militants who control Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and its most populous areas have targeted international shipping in the Red Sea area in solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel and Hamas. This has prompted retaliatory U.S.-led and British-led strikes, which began in February. Reporting by Tala RAMADAN, Yannis SOULIOTIS and Renee MALTEZOU; Editing by Jason Neely & Ros Russell