AP reported an explosion on a cargo ship in the Red Sea

In the Red Sea there was an explosion on a cargo ship under the flag of Hong Kong. This was reported on January 28 by the Associated Press (AP) agency with reference to the maritime security company Diaplous Group.

"The vessel was drifting and burning about 225 kilometers off the coast of Hodeidah, a port city in Yemen held by Houthi rebels," the company said.

The causes of the explosion are not yet known. It is known that the vessel was traveling north. It is specified that the crew was forced to leave the container ship, later they were rescued unharmed.

Earlier, on January 22, Al Masirah TV channel reported on the release by Yemeni Hussites of the crew of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader, which was seized in the fall of 2023. The release was in support of a deal between Israel and the radical Palestinian movement Hamas on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that has been in effect since January 19. Those on board were taken to Omani territory.

Before that, on January 17, the Houthis used drones to attack the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea. Yahya Saria, a spokesman for the Houthi armed forces, specified that the missile strike was aimed at "critical targets" in the Israeli city of Eilat.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas subjected Israeli territory to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.