London, May 23 -- The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency has issued a fresh security alert following a flurry of "suspicious activity" detected within the volatile waters of the Gulf of Aden.

A series of worrying encounters has triggered heightened anxiety along the busy shipping lanes.

"There have been multiple reports of vessels being approached by skiffs. A large skiff with two outboard engines has been observed carrying both ladders and weapons," the statement read.

As regional security forces move quickly to probe the precise nature of these hostile manoeuvres, international commercial shipping has been put on high alert.

The agency noted that vessels transiting the area "are advised to transit with caution",...