Yacht missed off Yemeni coast reaches safety‏‏

A missing yacht with three Russians and two Egyptians onboard reached safety in Djibouti in east Africa on Thursday، after going missing for days following an attack off the coast of Yemen، its owner said.

The sailboat، according to owner Dmitriy Chuguevskiy، arrived in Djibouti after being detained by officials off the coast of neighbouring Eritrea for a number of days. According to Chuguevskiy، the Eritrean authorities had their doubts after an attack off the coast of Yemen left bullet holes on the ship.

Photos of the boat 30 Minutes that was anchored in Djibouti were posted by Chuguevskiy. The ship's hull was marked with scrapes and what appeared to be gunshot holes.

The 30 Minutes made it to Djibouti، according to Operation Atalanta، a European Union anti-piracy patrol in the area.

Eritrea's Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the vessel. Chuguevskiy and Russia's Embassy in Saudi Arabia had earlier this week reported the 30 Minutes' disappearance.

It was unclear who assaulted the ship at first. However، during Yemen's protracted war، the Houthi rebels، who receive support from Iran، have carried out several maritime assaults. The Houthis captured the Rwabee، an Emirati ship، in January 2022. The Saudi-led coalition، the Houthis' foe in Yemen's protracted civil war، claimed the ship was transporting hospital supplies، while the Houthis claimed it was carrying military weapons. Later، the Indian crew of the ship was freed.

In May، the Lakota، a 62-foot (19-meter) trimaran purchased by famed French yachtsman Philippe Poupon، found itself attacked off the coast of Yemen's port city of Hodeida. Militants fired some 20 warning shots and displayed assault rifles and the rocket-propelled grenade launchers. One briefly boarded the ship before fleeing.