LONDON — British maritime security firm Ambrey said the vessel struck by a missile off the south coast of Yemen was a US-owned cargo ship.

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

Ambrey reported 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 said the vessel was "assessed to not be Israel-affiliated".

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had earlier reported an "incident" in Yemeni waters.

The UKMTO said the master of the vessel said the boat was "hit from above by a missile" near Yemen's southern port city of Aden.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen were a "last resort" following "exhaustive diplomatic activity".

"We of course will not hesitate to protect our security where required," said Sunak during a visit to Essex Monday.

Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, meanwhile, cited a source in the rebel group’s naval forces as reiterating that they will not target commercial shipping not linked to Israel.

“Navigation is safe” in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait “except for Israeli ships or those heading to occupied Palestinian ports”, the source said.

“We will continue the prevention of Israeli ships or those bound for occupied Palestinian ports until the end of the aggression and siege on Gaza,” they add.

Since November, the Houthis have attacked merchant vessels in the Red Sea more than 20 times with missiles, drones, fast boats and helicopters. They have claimed — often falsely — that those ships were linked to Israel. — BBC