British maritime security firm Ambrey says the vessel struck by a missile off the south coast of Yemen was a US-owned cargo ship, Paralel.Az reports citing BBC.

According to Ambrey, the attack "targeted US interests in response to US military strikes on Houthi military positions in Yemen".

Ambrey reports that a fire broke out on board the Marshall Islands-flagged, US-owned bulk carrier, but it remains seaworthy and there were no injuries.

It says the vessel was "assessed to not be Israel-affiliated".

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations security agency said earlier that the master of a vessel reported that it had been "hit from above by a missile" near Yemen's southern port city of Aden.

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The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency has received a report that the port side of a vessel was hit from above by a missile 95 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's Aden, it said in an advisory note on Monday, Paralel.Az reports citing Reuters.

UKMTO added that authorities are investigating, and advised vessels to transit with caution.

Yemen's Houthis have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea it says are linked to Israel or bound for Israeli ports, aiming to support Palestinians in the war with Israel.

U.S. and British forces responded last week by carrying out dozens of air and sea strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.