(Reuters) – The Iran-aligned Houthi group that governs northern Yemen took control of a cargo ship flagged United Arab Emirates, which was flagged by Saudi Arabia. It claimed it was involved in hostile acts but was actually carrying medical equipment.

It was just after midnight, heading from Socotra to Saudi Arabia’s port of Jizan.

Saudi Arabia heads a military coalition which has been fighting Houthis for over six years. They accuse the Houthis, who are accused of attacking shipping routes in the Red Sea which is the most important maritime route to the Suez Canal.

According to the coalition, the cargo ship was taken from the Hodeidah port in western Yemen.

Yahya Saaria, the military spokesperson for the Houthis, confirmed the seizure. He said the vessel was being loaded with military equipment, and that it had been engaged in hostile acts against the stability and security of Yemeni citizens. The crew of “different nationalities” were also still aboard, he said.

Sarea posted photos and videos of the ship seized in a media briefing on Masirah TV. He claimed they showed armoured vehicles and weapons, as well as ammunition. Sarea said that the vessel was taken north to Hodeidah’s Houthi-controlled port Salif.

SPA claimed that the ship was transporting equipment from a shuttered medical field.

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which reported late Sunday that they had received reports about an attack against a vessel in Yemen near Ras Isa. The port is located slightly north of Hodeidah. An investigation was underway.

UKMTO (part of Britain’s Royal Navy) issued an advisory at 2150 GMT 0050 GMT advising mariners to be extremely cautious in this area.

The vessel was located approximately 23 nautical mile west of Ras Isa, a Red Sea oil terminal.

The last attack near Ras Isa was in late 2019 when the Houthis briefly seized https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-idUSKBN1XT2WD a Saudi-flagged ship and two South Korean vessels.