Last Updated:
Yemen said four crew members aboard the Tihamah were killed in the initial strike, while 2 members of the rescue forces died during an operation to evacuate the vessel.
The deaths aboard the Tihamah, if confirmed, would be the first fatalities from a Houthi attack on shipping since the Iran war began. (Images via X)
At least six people were killed after suspected Houthi strikes hit an Egyptian-owned cargo ship near the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait off Yemen’s southern coast on Tuesday, according to Yemen’s coastguard.
If confirmed, the deaths aboard the Tihamah would mark the first fatalities from a Houthi attack on shipping since the Iran war began. The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the attack, which is the latest in a series of deadly incidents targeting shipping near the entrance to the Red Sea since the group announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia last month.
The incident adds to growing risks for shipping at the entrance to the Red Sea, after the Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia last month.
Six Killed In Two Strikes
Yemen’s internationally recognised government said four crew members aboard the Tihamah were killed in the initial strike, while two members of the rescue forces died during an operation to evacuate the vessel.
The coastguard said the first strike caused a fire and extensive damage to the ship, killing and injuring crew members. Among those killed were three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national, it said.
The initial salvo targeting the ship “caused a fire to break out aboard the vessel and inflicted extensive damage, in addition to causing deaths and injuries among its crew, including three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national killed,” the coastguard said in a statement.
A second strike hit the vessel while rescue teams were carrying out an evacuation operation, according to the coastguard. Ten people were injured in the attacks.
“The attack struck the site of the rescue operation and resulted in deaths and injuries among the forces participating in the response operation,” the coast guard added.
Yemen’s Transport Ministry also blamed the Houthis for the strikes but gave a lower death toll of four.
The transport ministry in its statement said it “held the Houthi terrorist militias fully responsible for the deaths, injuries and damage inflicted on the commercial vessel ‘Tihamah’ as well as for the serious consequences resulting from these attacks”.
(With inputs from agencies)
About the Author
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, …Read More
August 11, 2026, 11:52 PM IST
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]