Eritrean pirates attacked three Yemeni fishing boats with 24 sailors onboard while in international waters in the Red Sea, sources at the coastguard said on Tuesday.

The pirates took over the boats and towed them under gun threat to Eritrea, the sources said.

They confiscated properties onboard the boats and deported the crews on one of the three boats, they added.

The fishermen arrived in Hodeida Province and measures are underway to release the two other boats, they said.