Yemen Rebels Claim Attack On UAE Military Vessel

SANAA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Oct, 2016 ) - Yemeni rebels claimed on Saturday that they hit a vessel operated by the Emirati military, which is part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting in support of Yemen's government.

The UAE military said a boat under its command was involved in an "incident" in the Bab al-Mandab strait. It said there were no casualties. "Rockets targeted an Emirati warship as it approached the coast of Mokha" on the Red Sea, the Iran-backed Huthi rebels said in a statement on their sabanews.net website.

"It was completely destroyed," they said.

In a statement published by the official WAM news agency, the Emirati military said the boat was on a routine trip from Aden, further south, and that an investigation has begun.

It said the boat had been hired, but did not provide more details or say if the vessel was damaged. The UAE is a key member of the coalition that has been battling Iran-backed Huthi rebels and their allies since March last year in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's internationally recognised government.