The Yemeni armed forces spokesman General Yahya Saree said on Monday they had attacked the Rubymar cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden and the vessel is now at risk of sinking, SKY News reported.

The crew are safe, the spokesman said in a statement. The Yemeni amry had also shot down a US drone in the port city of Hodeidah, he added.

“The ship was seriously hit which caused it to stop completely. As a result of the extensive damage the ship suffered, it is now at risk of sinking in the Gulf of Aden,” Sarea said.

The Belize-flagged, British-registered and Lebanese-operated general cargo ship came under attack in the Bab al-Mandab Strait off Yemen on Sunday, British maritime security firm Ambrey said.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported on Sunday that the crew had abandoned a ship off Yemen after an explosion – apparently the same incident.

Yemen has vowed they will continue with their attacks until Israel stops its onslaught against the Gaza Strip, which has so far killed around 29,000 people, mostly women and children