The British Maritime Safety Office (UKMTO) reported on Tuesday night explosions near a cargo ship in the strategically important Bab el Madeb strait, which separates the Arabian peninsula from Africa.

As many as three explosions were heard “1 to 5 nautical miles” from the ship, which was between the coasts of Eritrea and Yemen, the service explained in a laconic message via X (the former Twitter), clarifying that the vessel was not damaged and the crew is “safe”.

In recent weeks, amid the Israel/Hamas war, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks in the Red Sea and the Bab el Madeb strait, through which 12 percent of world trade passes, according to the International Chamber of Commerce Shipping (ICS).

The Iran-backed Houthis, like Hamas, have warned that they will target ships transiting the Red Sea if they have any “connection” to Israel, in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Missiles and drones by the Shiite rebels have been shot down by US, French and British warships patrolling the zone.

According to the US Pentagon, the Houthis, who control much of Yemeni territory, including the country’s capital, have launched dozens of drone and missile attacks targeting around ten merchant ships. These attacks involved more than 35 countries.

The Houthi actions, which threaten to cause major disruption to international trade flows, prompted the US government to announce the creation of an ad hoc international military coalition to protect navigation in the Red Sea.