Fire breaks out on Cameroon-flagged vessel off Yemen's coast
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A fire broke out on the MV Falcon southeast of Aden after an explosion, amid escalating Red Sea tensions tied to Yemen’s blockade on Israeli-linked vessels.
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Smoke billows from the MV Falcon after an explosion southeast of Aden, Yemen, as the EU's Aspides mission reports a growing number of maritime incidents amid Red Sea tensions (Social media)
The European Union Naval Mission ASPIDES reported that a fire broke out on the MV Falcon, a Cameroon-flagged vessel, southeast of Aden, Yemen, following an incident that triggered an explosion on board.
According to the mission, the fire spread to approximately 15% of the ship. Twenty-four crew members managed to evacuate and were rescued by nearby vessels, while one crew member remains on board and another is still missing.
Emergency response teams and the Aspides mission are monitoring the situation closely to ensure the safety of the remaining crew and the stability of the vessel.
Earlier, the British maritime security firm Ambrey confirmed that a Dutch-flagged cargo ship had come under attack about 120 nautical miles southeast of the port of Aden.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency also reported that military authorities received information about an unidentified projectile striking a ship approximately 128 nautical miles off Aden, igniting a fire on board.
Escalating Red Sea tensions
The latest incidents come amid heightened maritime tensions linked to Yemen's naval blockade on Israeli-linked shipping, imposed in response to the genocidal war on Gaza.
Since late 2023, the Yemeni Armed Forces have launched dozens of missile and drone operations targeting vessels associated with "Israel" or en route to Israeli ports in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the MV Falcon explosion, the location and timing align with the pattern of recent maritime operations conducted by Yemeni forces, who have vowed to maintain the blockade until the Israeli offensive on Gaza ends.
Read more: Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari
Earlier in the day, Gaza authorities reported that Israeli forces have violated the newly declared ceasefire 47 times since its announcement earlier this week, killing 38 people and injuring 143 others.
The repeated breaches have intensified anger across the Arab world and reinforced Yemeni claims that their blockade is a legitimate act of resistance against "Israel's" continuing war crimes in Gaza.
