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Houthi Missile Attack Kills Six on Cargo Ship in Bab al-Mandeb Strait — AI-generated representative image: A commercial cargo vessel burning in the Red Sea following a reported ballistic missile strike in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

Editorial Team

Ballistic missile strike on Egyptian-owned Tihamah marks first Houthi-linked shipping fatalities since February

At least six people were killed and 10 others wounded when Houthi rebels struck an Egyptian-owned cargo vessel with ballistic missiles in the Bab al-Mandeb strait on Tuesday, according to Yemen's internationally recognised government. The attack on the Tihamah marks the first shipping fatalities linked to the Iran-aligned group since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28.

The deadly strike signals a dangerous escalation in the Red Sea shipping corridor, a vital artery for global trade. It comes amid the collapse of a UN-backed truce that had largely held since 2022, with both Houthi forces and the Saudi-led coalition exchanging attacks across Yemen and into Saudi territory in recent weeks.

How the Attack Unfolded

Yemen's Transport Ministry reported that the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at the commercial vessel, igniting a fire and causing what officials described as "significant damage" to the ship. Three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national were killed in the initial barrage.

In a separate statement, Yemen's coastguard said the Houthis launched a fourth missile as rescue personnel were evacuating casualties from the vessel. "The attack struck the site of the rescue operation and resulted in deaths and injuries among the forces participating in the response operation," the coastguard said. At least two troops died in that second strike. Of the 10 people wounded overall, seven were crew members.

Truce Collapse and Regional Escalation

The attack follows the unravelling of the UN-backed 2022 truce between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed internationally recognised government. The ceasefire effectively collapsed after a Saudi airstrike on the runway of Sanaa airport on July 13 prevented an Iranian flight carrying a high-ranking Houthi delegation from landing.

In retaliation, the Houthis struck Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia and declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea. The group has since targeted Saudi vessels and oil facilities, while the Saudi-led coalition has bombed Houthi-controlled Hodeidah and Kamaran, Yemen's largest Red Sea island. Houthi forces have also attacked government-held areas including the port city of al-Makha and the central city of Marib, killing dozens of troops and civilians.

Official Responses and Parallel Incidents

Yemen's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and urged the international community "to move from condemnation to effective and decisive action" against the Houthis. The Houthis themselves issued no official comment on the Tihamah strike, though their news agency Saba claimed the group had attacked a Saudi ship carrying military equipment in Bab al-Mandeb, without naming the vessel. Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to that claim.

Yemen's government also reported that the Houthis launched 10 missiles and four drones at sites along the country's western coast on Tuesday. The Houthis said those attacks targeted "Saudi military buildups, weapons depots and command posts" in al-Makha and Marib province.

In a separate Tuesday incident, the US military fired on a Panama-flagged cargo vessel, the Vela Nova, in the Gulf of Oman. US Central Command said a Navy helicopter launched two Hellfire missiles at the ship, which it said was attempting to breach the American blockade of Iranian ports. It did not confirm whether any crew members were injured.

What Comes Next

The United Nations has called for restraint, warning that renewed hostilities risk "drawing the country into a broader regional confrontation, with devastating consequences for its people." No official investigation into the Tihamah attack has been announced, and the Houthis have yet to directly address the incident. The situation along Yemen's Red Sea coast remains volatile as both sides continue military operations.