Yemen’s internationally recognized government announced that six people were killed and ten others were injured after Houthi forces attacked a commercial cargo vessel in the Bab al-Mandeb strait on Tuesday, August 11. The incident involved two separate missile strikes on the Egyptian-owned ship, the Tihamah, according to Yemeni officials.
Yemen’s Transport Ministry stated that Houthi forces fired three ballistic missiles at the vessel, causing a fire and significant damage. The initial strike killed four crew members, identified by the ministry as three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national.
In a separate statement, Yemen’s coastguard reported that a second missile struck the ship as a rescue operation was underway. The coastguard said the second attack killed at least two of its troops who were evacuating the dead and wounded. The total number of injured from both strikes was ten, including seven crew members and three rescue personnel, according to the report.
The Houthi movement did not immediately issue an official comment on the incident. However, the Houthi-run Saba news agency reported that the group had attacked a Saudi ship carrying military equipment in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, without providing the vessel’s name. There was no immediate response from Saudi officials regarding this claim.
Yemen’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the attack and called for the international community to take “effective and decisive action” against the Houthis.
The attack occurs amid a breakdown of a United Nations-backed truce that was established in 2022. Hostilities have renewed between Houthi forces and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. Recent events preceding the ship attack include a Saudi airstrike on the runway of Sanaa’s airport on July 13. Following that strike, Houthi forces launched attacks on Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia and announced a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea.
In response to Houthi actions, the Saudi-led coalition has conducted strikes on the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah and Kamaran island. Houthi forces have also launched attacks on government-held territories, including the port city of al-Makha and the central city of Marib.
On Tuesday, Yemen’s government reported that Houthi forces had launched 10 missiles and four drones in other attacks along the country’s western coast. The Houthis stated they had targeted “Saudi military buildups, weapons depots and command posts” in al-Makha and Marib province with ballistic missiles and drones.
The United Nations has called for restraint from all parties, with a spokesperson stating the renewed fighting risks “drawing the country into a broader regional confrontation, with devastating consequences for its people.”
In a separate development reported on the same day, U.S. Central Command said a U.S. Navy helicopter fired two missiles at the Panama-flagged cargo vessel Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman. The U.S. military stated the vessel was attempting to break its blockade of Iranian ports, but did not provide details on potential casualties.
