Yemen’s internationally recognised government has attributed the deaths of at least six individuals and injuries to ten others to a Houthi rebel attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The vessel, identified as the Tihamah and Egyptian-owned, was targeted through a series of ballistic missile strikes that ignited fires and caused substantial structural damage. Among the casualties were nationals from Pakistan and Indonesia, according to statements from Yemen’s Transport Ministry.
The attack occurred in two phases, with the Houthis firing additional missiles during rescue and evacuation operations. Yemen’s coastguard reported that personnel responding to the initial strike sustained injuries and fatalities from the secondary assault. The incident represents the first documented loss of life from shipping-related Houthi operations following military action initiated on February 28. Meanwhile, the Houthi-affiliated news agency reported that the group had targeted a separate vessel it identified as a Saudi ship carrying military equipment, though no confirmation was provided by Saudi authorities.
The attack coincides with the breakdown of a ceasefire arrangement that had been in place for several years between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The truce collapsed following a Saudi military operation on July 13 that damaged the runway at Sanaa airport, preventing an Iranian aircraft carrying Houthi leadership from landing. In response, the Houthi movement announced restrictions on shipping in the Red Sea and launched strikes against Saudi infrastructure, including airports and oil installations.
Both sides have since escalated military operations, with the internationally recognised government reporting multiple missile and drone attacks by the Houthis on government-controlled territories. The Houthis have framed their operations as targeting Saudi military installations and weapons depots. The United Nations has urged all parties to exercise restraint, warning that continued hostilities risk expanding the conflict into a broader regional confrontation with severe humanitarian implications for Yemen’s population.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI