Houthi Red Sea Attack Kills Three Crew Members

Four crew members were killed in a suspected attack by Iran-backed Houthis on the Egyptian-owned cargo vessel Tihamah in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, according to Yemeni sources. The fatalities, occurring as maritime traffic drops sharply across the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz, would be the first deaths in a Houthi strike on shipping since the Iran war began on February 28, if confirmed.

Bab el-Mandeb Strait Attack Kills Four Crew Members

The suspected Houthi strike targeted the small cargo vessel Tihamah in the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Tuesday, according to Yemeni sources. The attack resulted in the deaths of two Pakistanis and one Indonesian crew member, bringing the total death toll to three. The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the attack.

Following the strike, the crew lost control of the vessel as it sailed from Salalah in Oman via Djibouti, according to local sources. The ship was subsequently approached by the Yemeni coastguard. Maritime security group Ambrey noted that the Tihamah was not Saudi-owned or operated and had recently departed the Yemeni government-held port of al-Mokha on Saturday. LSEG data lists Egyptian companies as the owners and managers of the vessel, though neither responded to emails and phone calls seeking comment.

Missile Strike Hits Container Ship Vela Nova Off Pakistan

While the Red Sea faces mounting security challenges, the conflict has widened to maritime routes off South Asia. The Panama-flagged container ship Vela Nova was struck by a missile off the coast of Pakistan while sailing into the Gulf of Oman, according to maritime security sources speaking to Reuters. Vanguard, a UK maritime risk management group, and a security source estimated the ship was hit roughly 71 nautical miles off Pakistan’s coast.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the vessel was attacked by a US helicopter, which fired a Hellfire missile at the ship’s rudder after the crew attempted to evade a US blockade of Iran-linked shipping. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) acknowledged receiving a report of an incident involving a container ship and military forces. If confirmed, this incident would mark the 12th vessel attacked by US forces since the blockade was announced in April, and the third since it was reimposed on July 14. US Central Command provided no immediate comment on the operation.

Steep Declines in Regional Shipping Traffic

Broader maritime commerce across key Middle Eastern chokepoints continues to face severe disruption. Data from Kpler illustrates that average daily transits through the Bab el-Mandeb strait have fallen to 32 ships per day following a maritime embargo declared by the Houthis on July 20. The group stated the embargo was a response to a Saudi blockade, a claim denied by Riyadh.

Disruption is even more pronounced in the Strait of Hormuz, where clearing Iranian sea mine threats remains a painstaking and challenging process. Traffic through the strait dropped to just six vessels on Monday, a sharp decline from a 10-day average of about 11 ships and well below prewar levels of 130 to 140 daily transits.

Frequently Asked Questions