Houthi Attack on Cargo Ship in Red Sea Kills 6, Including Crew Members

Sana’a (Terror Monitor) — At least six people were killed in an alleged attack by Iran-backed Houthi fighters on a cargo vessel near the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the southern Red Sea, according to Yemeni and maritime security sources.

Those killed included four crew members aboard the cargo ship and two personnel who arrived to assist with rescue and evacuation operations.

According to Reuters, two Yemeni Coast Guard sources and two security and military sources affiliated with Yemen’s internationally recognized government said on Tuesday, August 11, that the attack occurred near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, an area where Houthi activity and influence remain significant.

Yemeni Coast Guard officials said rescue teams were dispatched after the attack to evacuate people aboard the vessel and assist injured crew members. Two members of the rescue team were also killed during the operation, bringing the reported death toll to six.

British maritime authorities confirm attack

According to Vanguard, the dead included two crew members, one Pakistani and one Indonesian national.

The company said four other people were wounded in the attack, including three Pakistanis and one Indonesian national.

The company further said that the Yemeni Navy arrived to assist the vessel after the attack but also came under fire, resulting in another casualty.

AFP also reported that the vessel was attacked by the Houthis.

Citing a Yemeni Coast Guard source, AFP reported that the ship was targeted by Iran-backed Houthis near the entrance to the Red Sea.

“We managed to rescue the other crew members,” the source said.

Another source also confirmed the incident to AFP and said the vessel came under a further attack during the rescue operation.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also confirmed that a cargo vessel was struck by a projectile in the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait.

However, UKMTO did not immediately confirm that four crew members had been killed. Initial reports contained conflicting information about the number of casualties and the precise nature of the attack.

International maritime security sources told Reuters that the targeted cargo vessel was sailing under the Tanzanian flag.

Attack near the Bab al-Mandab Strait

The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a strategically important and narrow maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. A significant volume of global trade and energy supplies passes through the waterway.

Because of its proximity to Yemen, the strait has repeatedly become a focal point for maritime security concerns and attacks during the region’s conflicts.

According to security sources, the six reported deaths in the latest incident are the first fatalities in a Houthi attack on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea during the current Middle East war.

The Houthis have previously targeted commercial and cargo vessels transiting the Red Sea with drones, missiles and other weapons. The attacks prompted several international shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab route and reroute vessels around longer alternative maritime routes.

Maritime tensions amid Iran-Israel war

The latest attack comes amid heightened regional tensions linked to the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

The current war began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran. The conflict subsequently spread to multiple fronts, while Houthi attacks and threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea have created additional risks for international maritime trade.

The Houthis are backed by Iran and control large parts of Yemen, including the capital, Sana’a. Yemen’s internationally recognized government, meanwhile, is supported by Saudi Arabia and several other countries in the region.

Yemeni authorities said rescue operations were completed following the attack near Bab al-Mandab and that the condition of the affected vessel and its crew was being assessed. Further details about the incident are expected to emerge.

The latest attack has once again highlighted security concerns surrounding the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes, and the potential risks to global shipping from the continuing conflict in the region.