The merchant vessel attacked on Monday morning in the Red Sea and its crew are reported safe, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which received a report of a merchant vessel being attacked by three small craft 70 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's Hodeidah city. The vessel is proceeding to the next port of call after it conducted "self protection measures," UKMTO said. An unmanned small craft collided with the vessel twice and two manned small craft fired at it, according to UKMTO. Since November, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group has been launching drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The group says these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians affected by Israel's war in Gaza.