Aysu Biçer
06 February 2024•Update: 06 February 2024
LONDON
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency on Tuesday said it had received a report of an incident 50 nautical miles south of Yemen's port city of Aden.
The reported incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea over attacks on shipping by Yemeni Houthis and retaliatory strikes by the US and Britain, fueling fears that the war in Gaza could expand into a regional conflict. The Red Sea is a heavily trafficked international shipping lane.
The agency said authorities are investigating the incident, in the Gulf of Aden, near the mouth of the Red Sea.
"Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO," it added.
No further details were provided.
Separately, Denmark said it has decided to send a frigate to the Red Sea to "enhance security for the international shipping industry."
The Houthis' "illegal and unprovoked attacks have huge consequences for maritime security and global trade," the Danish Foreign Ministry said on X.
On Jan. 31, the Royal Danish Navy dispatched its frigate Iver Huitfeldt to the Red Sea to take part in the US-led multinational task force Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect Red Sea shipping.
