KONTAN.CO.ID - RIYADH - Britain's Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) on Sunday said that it has received reports of a drone attack in the Red Sea's Bab al-Mandab strait.

UKMTO had earlier reported drone activity that originated from Yemen, as well as a possible explosion, and called on vessels in the vicinity to exercise caution.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports.

The reported incident follows a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since war broke out between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7.

An Israeli-linked cargo ship was seized last month by the Houthi group, an ally of Iran. The group, which controls most of Yemen's Red Sea coast, had previously fired ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel and vowed to target more Israeli vessels.

There was no immediate comment from the Houthis on Sunday.

Last week a U.S. Navy warship responded to a distress call from an Israeli-managed commercial tanker in the Gulf of Aden after it had been seized by armed individuals.

Editor: Syamsul Azhar