Six killed in Houthi attack on Bab al-Mandeb ship, Yemen’s government says | US-Israel war on Iran News
Deadly Strike on Cargo Vessel Off Yemen’s Coast Linked to Houthis
Yemen’s internationally recognized government has accused the Houthi rebel group of killing at least six individuals and injuring 10 others in a missile attack on the Egyptian-owned cargo vessel Tihamah in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday. This incident marks the first shipping-related deaths attributed to the Houthis since the U.S. and Israel began military operations against Iran on February 28.
According to Yemen’s Transport Ministry, the attack involved three ballistic missiles that struck the Tihamah, resulting in a significant fire and damage to the vessel. Among the deceased were three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national. Additionally, Yemen’s coastguard reported a second missile launched at the cargo ship as rescue operations commenced, resulting in further casualties. At least two personnel involved in the rescue were killed in the follow-up strike, contributing to a total of 10 injuries, including seven crew members.
In response to the attack, Yemen’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Houthis and urged the international community to transition from mere condemnation to decisive action against the rebel group. There was no immediate response from Houthi officials; however, the Houthi-run news agency Saba claimed responsibility for a separate attack on a Saudi vessel carrying military supplies in the same region, details of which have not been confirmed by Saudi authorities.
On the same day, the U.S. military reported firing on a cargo ship, identified as the Panama-flagged Vela Nova, attempting to breach its blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman. Central Command indicated that a Navy helicopter fired two missiles at the vessel but did not confirm any casualties among its crew.
The uptick in hostilities in Yemen follows the collapse of a long-standing truce in the ongoing civil conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed legitimate government. The breakdown of the United Nations-brokered ceasefire, which had been in place since 2022, was precipitated by a July 13 Saudi airstrike targeting the runway of Sanaa Airport, preventing the arrival of an Iranian flight carrying Houthi representatives.
Subsequently, the Houthis retaliated by attacking Abha airport in Saudi Arabia and announcing a maritime blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea. They have since engaged in attacks on Saudi vessels and oil facilities, further complicating global supply chains.
In response, the Saudi-led coalition has targeted Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, including strikes on the port city of Hodeidah and Kamaran Island, the largest in the Red Sea. Reports indicate a renewed wave of Houthi missile and drone attacks on government-held territory, notably the port city of al-Makha and the central region of Marib, leading to significant casualties.
The United Nations has called for immediate restraint, expressing concern that escalating violence could draw Yemen into a wider regional conflict with dire consequences for its population.
