What prompted the US attacks on the Houthis? This expert answers 2:05

(CNN) --

A ship was abandoned by its crew after an attack in the Gulf of Aden, according to a notice from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) published early this Monday.

The ship, which was attacked on Sunday, was about 65 kilometers south of Al Mukha, in Yemen, the UKMTO said. The crew were rescued by another merchant ship, believed to be a Singapore-flagged container ship, according to reports seen by British security company Ambrey.

The attacked vessel was a Belize-flagged cargo ship, registered in the United Kingdom and operated by Lebanon, Ambrey said in a statement on Sunday.

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Yemen's Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, claimed responsibility for the attack, in retaliation for "American-British aggression" against Yemen.

The cargo ship Rubymar sails at the entrance to the Bosphorus, north of Istanbul, on November 2, 2022. (Credit: OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

"The naval forces of the Yemen Armed Forces carried out a targeted military operation, targeting a British ship in the Gulf of Aden, 'RUBYMAR', with several appropriate naval missiles," the group's spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement in X this Monday.

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The spokesman said the ship suffered "catastrophic damage" and "completely stopped."

"It is now at risk of possible sinking in the Gulf of Aden," the spokesman added.

The Houthi military also claimed to have shot down a US-made MQ-9 Reaper attack drone over the city of Hodeida, which Saree said was "conducting hostile missions" against Yemen. The attack comes after the United States carried out strikes on anti-ship cruise missiles and Houthi vessels on Saturday, according to US Central Command.

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On Monday, the UKMTO and Ambrey also received reports of two incidents involving a US-owned, Greek-flagged bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden.

At first, the bulk carrier made military distress calls, reporting a "missile attack," according to Ambrey.

About two hours later, the ship, about 130 kilometers southeast of Aden (Yemen), reported "a projectile that hit the water 10-15 meters from the ship's starboard side," Ambrey added.

The Houthis have not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

The increase in attacks comes as the European Union (EU) formally launched its mission in the Red Sea on Monday to protect commercial shipping in the region. The defensive maritime operation, ASPIDES, "will restore and safeguard freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf," according to an EU press release.

"The European Union is responding rapidly to the need to restore maritime security and freedom of navigation in a highly strategic maritime corridor," EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said in the press release.

-- With previous information from Aileen Graef.

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