The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that a missile attack by Yemen’s Armed Forces on a merchant ship transiting the Gulf of Aden has left at least three seafarers dead, the first fatalities since the Arab country launched retaliatory attacks on vessels in the area, Press TV reported.
CENTCOM said in a statement on Wednesday that the fatalities occurred after the Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence, a Liberian-owned bulk carrier, was set ablaze approximately 50 nautical miles (93km) off the coast of Yemen’s port of Aden.
It also reported at least four injuries, of which three are in critical condition, as well as “significant damage to the ship” following the strike.
Earlier, a shipping source said three crew members were missing from the bulk carrier True Confidence and four others had been badly burned following an attack on the vessel, which initial reports identified as a US-owned one.
A US defense official also said smoke was seen coming from True Confidence, adding that a lifeboat had also been seen in the water near the ship.
bd-pratidin/GR
