3 Killed After Yemen’s Houthis Attack Cargo Ship In Red Sea: Report
Three people reportedly killed in Red Sea cargo ship attack.
A small cargo ship was attacked in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday, with three crew members reported killed, according to Yemeni coast guard sources and military officials. The attack was attributed to Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement, although the group had not claimed responsibility for the incident at the time of reporting.
Maritime security sources cited by Reuters reported that a small cargo vessel was believed to have been targeted in the Red Sea, but details about the condition of the crew were initially unclear. Yemeni officials identified the vessel as the Tanzania-flagged Tihamah and reported that two Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national were among those killed.
If confirmed, the deaths would mark the first fatalities resulting from a Houthi attack on a commercial vessel since the latest Middle East conflict was triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February. The incident adds to concerns over the security of one of the world's key maritime routes, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
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The Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea last month, citing what they described as a Saudi siege of Yemen. Saudi Arabia has denied the allegation. The latest attack comes amid continuing tensions in the region and growing concerns among shipping companies over the safety and reliability of major maritime routes.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a strategically important passage for international trade, and renewed attacks could further disrupt commercial shipping. Shipping companies have already faced difficulties linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, increasing pressure on alternative routes and raising uncertainty over the movement of cargo through the region.
Kpler data showed that an average of about 32 ships a day passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait last week, compared with around 50 vessels a day before the blockade. The reported attack could further increase security concerns for operators using the route, particularly if Houthi attacks on commercial vessels resume or intensify.
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