Six killed in Houthi strike on civilian vessel in the Red Sea

Six people were killed and ten were wounded in a Houthi strike on a civilian vessel in the Red Sea, marking the group’s first lethal attack on shipping since the onset of the war with Iran. The Houthis declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia last month and have been targeting shipping routes. On Tuesday, the Yemeni government reported that the commercial vessel Tihama was struck by three ballistic missiles while navigating the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, resulting in the deaths of four crew members, including three Pakistanis and one Indonesian. Two rescuers were also killed during a follow-up strike while attempting to evacuate the crew, according to the Yemeni Coast Guard. The Yemeni government stated that the vessel was transporting food supplies for the Yemeni population. In a statement, the Yemeni Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, asserting that it targeted essential supplies and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. The Houthis, however, claimed they were targeting a Saudi ship carrying military equipment. The maritime risk management company Vanguard identified the vessel as flying a Tanzanian flag. The fatalities from the strike are expected to heighten the severity of the Houthi blockade and may further limit shipping through the strait, potentially increasing costs for energy and other goods. The Houthis have framed their actions as a response to Saudi Arabia's blockade of their territory. The current crisis escalated last month following airstrikes on Sanaa Airport, which the Houthis attributed to Saudi Arabia, leading to retaliatory strikes against Saudi infrastructure. In response to the growing threat, Saudi Arabia announced the formation of a 14-nation naval coalition to ensure the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.