3 Sailors Killed in Houthi Attack Near Yemen Bab el-Mandeb Hit Again
At least three crew members were killed after a cargo ship was attacked in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group, according to Yemeni officials cited by Reuters. The victims were reportedly two Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national.
The attack involved the Tanzania-flagged Tihamah, which was travelling from Salalah in Oman towards Djibouti. The Houthis had not claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of the Hindustan Times report.
First Houthi Strike Since February?
If confirmed, the attack would mark the first Houthi strike on shipping since the wider Middle East conflict was triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, according to the report.
The incident comes roughly a month after the Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, citing what they described as a Saudi siege of Yemen. Saudi Arabia has denied that accusation.
Why Bab el-Mandeb Matters
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, whose name means “Gate of Tears,” is a crucial maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Around 12% of global trade passes through the waterway. Kpler data cited by Reuters showed an average of about 32 ships a day using the strait last week, compared with roughly 50 per day before the blockade.
Another Threat to Global Shipping
The incident adds another layer of risk to an already disrupted Middle Eastern shipping network.
The Strait of Hormuz remains shut, while shipping through Bab el-Mandeb has also been affected by security concerns. Reuters previously reported that vessel traffic through the strait fell after Houthi attacks on Saudi oil installations.
For shipping companies, attacks or threats around both chokepoints can mean longer routes, higher insurance costs and additional risks for crews.
What About Indian Crew Members?
The latest Hindustan Times report identifies the three fatalities as two Pakistanis and one Indonesian. It does not report any Indian crew member among those killed in this particular attack.
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