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First Fatalities Confirmed in Latest Escalation
A small cargo ship was attacked by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis in the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Tuesday, killing three crew members, according to two Yemeni coast guard sources and two military officials in the government .
The fatalities on the Tanzania-flagged Tihamah mark the first deaths in a Houthi strike on a ship since the Middle East conflict was triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February . The Houthis have not yet claimed responsibility for the attack .
Casualties and Vessel Details
Two Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian crew member were killed in the attack . The ship was sailing from Salalah in Oman via Djibouti when it was struck .
UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a cargo vessel off the coast of al-Mokha, Yemen, had been hit by an unknown projectile, resulting in casualties . British maritime security company Ambrey said the ship was reportedly targeted and damaged by the Houthis while at anchor 3.3 nautical miles northeast of Perim Island, Yemen .
After the attack, the crew lost control of the ship and were approached by Yemeni coast guard . The Egyptian company listed as the owner and manager of the Tihamah did not respond to requests for comment .
Broader Context: Houthi Blockade and Regional Tensions
The Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea last month in response to what they described as a Saudi siege . Riyadh denies having besieged Yemen .
Ambrey noted that the vessel was not Saudi-owned or operated at the time of the attack, adding that it had departed al-Mokha on Saturday . The attack has increased uncertainty for shipping companies already hobbled by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz . An average of 32 ships per day passed through the Bab el-Mandeb strait last week, compared to 50 ships per day prior to the blockade .
