First Houthi Shipping Deaths Since Feb: 2 Pakistanis, 1 Indonesian Killed In Red Sea Attack

Red Sea:Iran-backed Houthis have carried out a suspected missile attack on a small cargo vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, killing three crew members on Tuesday, Yemeni and maritime sources said.

What Happened:

The attack targeted the Tanzania-flagged cargo ship Tihamah, which was sailing from Salalah in Oman via Djibouti.According to Yemeni sources, two Pakistanis and one Indonesian person were killed in the strike. After the attack, the crew lost control of the vessel and were later approached by the Yemeni coastguard. The ship was hit by an unknown projectile while at anchor northeast of Perim Island, Yemen, according to a report received by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). If confirmed, these would be the first fatalities in a Houthi strike on shipping since the Iran war began on February 28.

Houthis Declare Blockade:

The Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea on July 20, in response to what they described as a Saudi siege. Riyadh denies that Yemen is under siege. The Houthis have not yet claimed responsibility for this specific attack. 

Impact On Shipping:

Attacks in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have increased uncertainty for shipping companies. Data showed an average of 32 ships per day passed through the strait last week, down from 50 ships per day before the blockade.

 Some reports also mention a separate incident where a container ship was hit off Pakistan in a suspected US attack. Saudi authorities have not officially confirmed details of the Tihamah incident yet.