Quick summary: UKMTO says an encounter about 70 nautical miles southwest of Aden has been downgraded to "suspicious activity" after only warning shots were fired. A white skiff with five people approached and hailed a vessel; two other skiffs were seen nearby. No weapons were directed at either vessel and authorities are investigating. The incident comes against a backdrop of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea since 2023 that have largely eased since an October ceasefire.
Aden-Area Maritime Encounter Downgraded: UKMTO Says Only Warning Shots Fired
A view of the southern port city of Aden, Yemen October 17 , 2019. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reclassified an encounter involving a merchant vessel and small boats about 70 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's port of Aden as "suspicious activity" after learning that only warning shots were fired.
What Happened
UKMTO initially received a report that a white skiff carrying five people approached and hailed a vessel and that there had been an exchange of small-arms fire. In a follow-up update, the agency said it was informed that only warning shots were fired and that no weapons were aimed directly at either vessel.
Two additional skiffs were observed in the vicinity, prompting an ongoing investigation by maritime authorities. UKMTO reiterated its guidance that ships should transit the area with caution and report any suspicious behavior.
Context
Since 2023, Yemen's Houthi militants have launched numerous attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, saying they acted in solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel–Hamas war. Those attacks largely subsided after a ceasefire brokered in October, but some shipping companies remain wary about resuming normal routes through the corridor.
The earlier attacks disrupted trade flows through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest shipping routes. Authorities continue to monitor the corridor closely; Somali pirate gangs, which historically used small fast skiffs, were also once active in these waters.
Advisory: Vessels transiting near Aden should maintain vigilance, follow UKMTO guidance, and report suspicious activity immediately.
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