Home / War and Conflict / Houthi Attack Kills 4, Cripples Ship in Yemen Strait
Houthi Attack Kills 4, Cripples Ship in Yemen Strait
12 Aug
Summary
- Four individuals were killed in a Houthi strike on the Tihamah cargo ship.
- The attack, targeting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, injured ten others.
- Shipping traffic has significantly decreased due to increased Houthi targeting.
An Iran-backed Houthi assault on the Egyptian-owned cargo ship Tihamah in Yemen's Bab el-Mandeb Strait resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including three Pakistanis and one Indonesian. The vessel's crew lost control after the attack, and two rescuers were also killed during a subsequent alleged Houthi strike. Ten people were injured in total, comprising seven crew members, two Coast Guard personnel, and one member of the National Resistance Forces.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, marking the first reported Houthi strike fatalities on shipping since February 28. Maritime security agencies confirmed a vessel was hit by an unknown projectile near Perim Island. While the Houthis claimed to have targeted a ship carrying Saudi military equipment, the Tihamah was identified as Egyptian-owned and had departed from Al Mokha.
This attack exacerbates a significant decline in shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea. Traffic has fallen by over 50% since the Houthis began targeting commercial shipping in 2023. Separately, a Panama-flagged ship, Vela Nova, was reportedly struck by a missile off Pakistan, with reports suggesting a US helicopter fired upon it.
