Houthi forces launched a projectile attack on the Tanzanian-flagged commercial cargo ship Tihamah in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on August 11, causing fires and significant damage to the vessel [1, 2, 3, 4]. At least three crew members died in the assault, including two Pakistanis and one Indonesian [1, 3, 5, 4]. Yemen's Coast Guard reports a higher death toll of six, which includes four crew and two Yemeni naval personnel, along with about 10 wounded [2].
The attack marks the first deadly strike on shipping linked to the Houthis since the recent conflict began between the US, Israel, and Iran [1, 3]. The Yemen Transportation Ministry condemned the assault, stating the targeted ship was carrying food supplies. It described the attack as part of "an escalating Houthi campaign targeting ports, civilian infrastructure in government-controlled areas, and commercial vessels serving those areas" [2].
The ministry added that such attacks threaten "food and consumer goods supplies for millions of Yemenis in both government-controlled areas and territory held by the Houthis" [2]. Despite the casualties and damage, the Houthis have not publicly claimed responsibility or commented on the incident as of the latest reports [1, 3, 4].
The Tihamah was attacked near Yemen's strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The assault employed ballistic missiles or similar projectiles to inflict damage and start fires onboard [1, 2, 3].
Efforts to secure the Bab al-Mandeb Strait have tightened amid rising tensions in the region. The variation in reported fatalities underscores the difficulty of verifying details amidst the ongoing conflict. The Yemen Coast Guard's broader casualty figures include Yemeni naval personnel, suggesting a possible naval presence responding to the attack [2].
No further official updates or reactions from the Houthis have been reported following the August 11 incident.
