Aden- At least two people have died after a Houthi attack on a ship in the Gulf of Aden, the British Embassy to Yemen has confirmed.

Four sailors were severely burned and three were reported missing after a missile hit cargo ship True Confidence off Yemen on Wednesday, according to a shipping source. 

The attack is believed to be the first time serious injuries have been reported since Yemen's Houthi movement began attacking ships in one of the world's busiest waterways last year.

In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, the British Embassy said: "At least two innocent sailors have died. This was the sad but inevitable consequence of the Houthis recklessly firing missiles at international shipping.

"They must stop. Our deepest condolences are with the families of those that have died and those that were wounded."  

The Greek operator of the True Confidence said the vessel was struck about 50 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden and was drifting and ablaze.

They said no information was available about the status of 20 crew and three armed guards on board, which included 15 Filipinos, four Vietnamese, two Sri Lankans, an Indian and a Nepali national.  Yemen's Houthis issued a statement claiming responsibility.

A shipping source, who asked to remain anonymous, said the Barbados-flagged vessel appeared to have been abandoned, with three people missing and four badly burned.