Cargo ship targeted off Yemen's Mokha, crew absent during attack

ANBAR, Iraq — LONDON — The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a cargo ship was struck by unidentified projectiles 40 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's Mokha on Monday. The vessel had no crew on board at the time of the incident. In a statement issued Tuesday, UKMTO said the damage sustained was severe enough that repair costs would exceed the ship's insured value. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the nature of the attack and identify those responsible. The area lies near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as one of the world's most important shipping lanes. The waters off Mokha have seen recurring security incidents targeting commercial vessels in recent years. UKMTO regularly shares information on incidents affecting merchant shipping with the international maritime community. No further details were immediately available on the latest attack.