3 Pakistanis among four killed in Houthi attack in Bab al-Mandeb

Four crew members died and several others sustained injuries on Tuesday after a commercial vessel carrying food supplies was targeted in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. According to the Yemeni Ministry of Transportation, reported via the Tribune, the casualties included three Pakistani crew members and one Indonesian sailor. Four additional crew members were wounded in the strike, alongside a member of a rescue team who was injured during subsequent operations.

The Yemeni-flagged vessel, identified by maritime security sources as the Tihamah, was struck three times by ballistic missiles while navigating the strategic waterway. The impacts set the ship on fire and generated significant material damage. The transportation ministry stated that Houthi forces fired an additional missile at the crippled vessel while rescue teams attempted to reach the stranded crew, an act described as an intentional effort to disrupt rescue operations and maximize casualties.

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Condemning the incident as a terrorist crime, the ministry asserted that the attack directly threatens international trade and maritime safety navigation. Officials warned that targeting vessels transporting food supplies jeopardizes consumer-goods and food supplies for millions of residents across both government-controlled territories and regions held by the Houthis. Meanwhile, Ibtimes noted that the Iran-backed group was suspected of conducting the strike, though the Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack.

Reporting on the specifics of the vessel's ownership and voyage differed across maritime monitors and news outlets. The British Navy-affiliated agency UK Maritime Trade Operations received a report that an unknown projectile hit the ship, while British maritime security group Ambrey noted the incident occurred while the vessel was anchored northeast of Perim Island. Ambrey added that the cargo ship had departed the Yemeni government-held port of al-Mokha, and clarified that the vessel was neither Saudi-owned nor operated. Data from LSEG indicated that Egyptian companies own and manage the ship, though those firms did not respond to requests for comment.

Following the initial strike, the crew lost control of the vessel. When the Yemeni coastguard approached to assist, the rescue forces came under fire, according to maritime risk management group Vanguard.

The escalation unfolds against a backdrop of heavily restricted shipping lanes. The Tribune reported that the Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, though Riyadh denies Yemen is under siege. Shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea has dropped by more than half compared to an earlier wave of Houthi attacks on shipping in 2023-25.

Broader regional tensions continue to impact transit routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has fallen dramatically. Concurrently, political leaders have commented on the economic dimensions of the conflict, with United States President Donald Trump asserting that economic pressure on Iran is taking effect amid ongoing disruptions.

The wider conflict has repeatedly affected Pakistani nationals in the region. Prior to the recent casualties aboard the Tihamah, a Pakistani national was killed during the interception of an Iranian missile. Subsequent fatalities involved individuals in various locations, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as stray debris or military interceptions impacted civilian areas.

Discussions among regional actors regarding the waterway have also involved potential financial measures. Group officials discussed the possibility of imposing fees for most traffic going through the Bab al-Mandeb strait with Iranian counterparts during funeral ceremonies, following similar intentions from Iran, though no timeframe for the initiative has been established.

Recent Shipping and Regional Impacts

• Bab al-Mandeb weekly traffic dropped to an average of 32 ships per day following the blockade announcement, down from an average of 50 before the blockade.
• Strait of Hormuz traffic slowed significantly, with only six vessels passing through on Monday compared to prewar levels of some 130 to 140.
• The Tihamah departed al-Mokha on Saturday before being struck northeast of Perim Island.