Container ship reports missile explosions in Red Sea

British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Tuesday that a Malta-flagged container ship called for a US-led coalition warship after seeing three nearby explosions. 

Citing radio intercepts, Ambrey said that three missiles had been fired from the direction of Yemen's Taiz Governorate, near the port of Mokha.

Another vessel reported seeing a small boat, about 50 metres in length, around 1.6 km from the site of the explosions, Ambrey added.

On Sunday, a US Navy helicopter sunk three small Houthi boats that were attacking an AP Moller-Maersk container ship. The direct fighting between the US and Houthis marked an escalation in maritime attacks. The Houthis said 10 of their members were killed.

The Houthis claim they are only targeting vessels linked to Israel, but in recent days analysts have said the Houthis appear to be widening their attacks.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Malta-flagged vessel had Israeli links.