(Reuters) -A Cameroon-flagged tanker issued a distress call on Saturday after an explosion onboard as it passed about 60 nautical miles south of Yemen’s Ahwar, British maritime security firm Ambrey said.

The cause of the explosion was unclear.

Ambrey said it was aware of radio communications indicating the crew intended to abandon ship and that a search and rescue operation was underway.

The vessel was travelling from Oman’s Sohar Port to Djibouti, Ambrey added.

It said the tanker was not believed to be linked to the target profile of Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.

They have launched numerous attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since 2023, targeting ships they deem linked to Israel in what they describe as solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s war on Gaza.

The attacks have disrupte

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