Missile strike from Houthi rebels sets cargo ship on fire in Gulf of Aden

Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday hit commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden, striking the M/V Verbena with two anti-ship cruise missiles. The attack ignited a fire on board and severely injured one civilian mariner, according to reports.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre and private security firm Ambrey both reported the incident, with Ambrey noting a distress call from the vessel after it was struck by a missile.

1. The M/V Verbena is a bulk cargo carrier flagged under Palau, owned by a Ukrainian company, and operated by a Polish firm.