Houthi Attack Kills 6 on Egyptian Ship Tihamah in Bab al-Mandeb Strait
Key Points
- At least six people were killed and ten wounded when Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at the Egyptian-owned Tihamah on Tuesday.
- The deaths mark the first shipping fatalities linked to Houthis since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28.
- Houthis fired a second missile at rescue personnel, killing at least two troops, according to Yemen's coastguard statement.
Yemen's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and called on the international community "to move from condemnation to effective and decisive action" against the Houthis. The Houthi-run news agency Saba claimed the group had attacked a Saudi ship carrying military equipment in the same strait, though it did not name the vessel and Saudi Arabia did not immediately respond to the report.
The attack on the Tihamah occurred as tensions escalate following the collapse of a UN-backed truce that had held since 2022. The breakdown followed a Saudi air strike on the runway of Sanaa airport on July 13, which prevented an Iranian flight carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. The Houthis subsequently announced a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea and attacked Saudi oil facilities and vessels, adding disruption to global maritime commerce.
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On the same day as the Tihamah attack, Yemen's government reported that Houthis launched 10 missiles and four drones during additional strikes on sites on the country's western coast. The Houthis claimed their attacks were "targeting Saudi military buildups, weapons depots and command posts" in al-Makha and Marib province. The Saudi-led coalition has responded with strikes on Houthi-controlled areas including Hodeidah and Kamaran in the Red Sea.
The escalating attacks underscore the fragility of Yemen's security situation following the 2022 truce collapse and the spillover effects of regional tensions. With the Houthis now demonstrating the capacity to kill commercial shipping crews in coordinated strikes, maritime insurers and shipping companies operating in the Red Sea face mounting risk assessments for vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
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What Happens Next
The Houthis are likely to continue attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb as they leverage maritime strikes to pressure Saudi Arabia and demonstrate capabilities amid the broader regional conflict. Yemen's internationally recognised government will likely seek international intervention, though enforcement mechanisms remain limited. The frequency of attacks and casualty toll will influence global shipping route decisions and insurance premiums for Red Sea transit.
Sources: Al Jazeera and other international news outlets.
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