At least six people were killed and 10 others injured after the cargo vessel Tihamah was attacked in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, with Yemen’s internationally recognised government blaming the Iran-aligned Houthi movement for the deadly assault. The incident occurred on Tuesday and involved multiple strikes on the commercial vessel, followed by another attack while rescue efforts were underway.
Yemen’s Transport Ministry said the Tihamah was hit by three ballistic missiles while sailing through the strategic waterway. The strikes caused a fire and serious damage to the vessel. Four crew members were killed, including three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national. Several other crew members were injured in the initial attack.
The situation became more deadly when another strike was reported during the rescue operation. Yemeni Coast Guard officials said two members of the forces involved in the response were killed when the vessel or the rescue area was attacked again.
The Tihamah is an Egyptian-owned commercial cargo vessel, and reports indicate that it was carrying food supplies. The Houthi movement was accused of targeting the ship, while Houthi-aligned reporting later said the group had attacked a vessel carrying Saudi military equipment. The competing descriptions of the vessel’s cargo have not been independently verified.
The attack is significant because it represents a serious escalation in the threat facing commercial shipping in the Red Sea region. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a major maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is an important route for international trade between Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The latest incident also highlights the danger faced by rescue teams responding to attacks on merchant vessels. The reported second strike occurred while personnel were attempting to assist those affected by the initial attack, resulting in additional casualties among the responders.
The deadly attack comes amid continuing tensions around maritime traffic in and around the Red Sea. Houthi attacks and threats against shipping have previously prompted international vessels to reconsider their routes through the region. Any further deterioration in maritime security could increase pressure on shipping operators and disrupt an already vulnerable trade corridor.
The incident involving the Tihamah is also being closely watched because it is reportedly the first fatal Houthi attack on commercial shipping since the war involving Iran began in February. This adds further significance to the latest strike and raises concerns about whether attacks on merchant vessels could intensify in the coming days.
The Bab al-Mandeb remains strategically important to global maritime commerce, making the safety of vessels passing through the waterway a major international security concern. The deaths aboard the Tihamah underline the continuing risks faced by civilian crews and maritime personnel operating in waters affected by the wider regional conflict.
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