US officials confirmed reports that a ship was attacked in the Red Sea near the Yemeni port of Mokha, which is controlled by the Houthi group, on Monday.

Officials told Reuters on Monday that the merchant ship "Swan Atlantic" was attacked in the southern Red Sea by several projectiles launched from an area controlled by the Houthis.

The officials added that the destroyer USS Carney responded to a distress call and moved toward the ship, without further details.

The British Maritime Trade Operations Authority revealed earlier Monday that it had received a report from a ship captain about a possible explosion near his ship in the Bab al-Mandab Strait area, 30 nautical miles south of the port of Mocha.

In a statement on the X website, the British Authority confirmed that the relevant authorities are conducting an investigation in this regard, and advised ships “to cross with caution and to report any suspicious activity to the British Maritime Trade Operations Authority.”

Since November 19, there have been successive attacks by the Yemeni Houthi group on cargo ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the most recent of which was the interception of the Norwegian commercial tanker Strinda on December 12, and two container ships on the 15 of the same month.