Image for representation purposes only A tanker reported several explosions close to the vessel about 60 nautical miles south of Al-Mokha, Yemen, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday, October 4. The tanker’s company security officer reported seeing the explosions while the vessel was sailing through the area. The crew were safe, and there was no reported environmental impact. Authorities are looking into what happened. UKMTO did not name the tanker or say what caused the explosions. The incident happened near the approaches to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait , a major route for ships travelling between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The advisory did not say that the tanker was hit or damaged. It also did not say whether the explosions came from a missile, drone or another source. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. UKMTO has advised ships in the area to travel with caution and report any suspicious activity. Bab al-Mandeb Strait The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a narrow waterway between Yemen and the African coast. It connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and provides a sea route between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The strait is an important passage for international commercial shipping. Ships using the route can travel between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden without going around the southern tip of Africa. Its location also makes the Bab al-Mandeb important for trade between Europe, the Middle East, Asia and other parts of the world. The waterway is one of the main maritime routes connecting the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean. The strait lies between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea on the African side. The Yemeni port city of Al-Mokha is located on the Red Sea coast, close to the northern approaches to the strait. References: UKMTO, Iranintl