Six Killed in Houthi Attack on Cargo Ship in Bab al-Mandeb Strait

At least six people were killed and ten others wounded after Houthi rebels attacked a cargo vessel in the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The ship, identified as the Tihamah, was struck by three ballistic missiles, which sparked a fire and caused significant damage. According to the Yemeni coastguard and government, the casualties include four crew members, consisting of three Pakistanis and one Indonesian, as well as two soldiers who were part of a rescue team. The coastguard reported that a second missile strike targeted the rescue operation while personnel were evacuating the dead and wounded. The Yemeni government stated the ship was transporting food, while Houthi-run media reported that the vessel was carrying Saudi Arabian military equipment. The Yemeni government has called on the international community to take decisive action to protect shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This escalation follows the collapse of a truce between the Saudi-backed government and the Iran-aligned Houthi militia. The Houthis previously announced a blockade on Saudi shipping and have targeted oil tankers and facilities. The attack occurs amid a broader regional conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and increased the strategic importance of the Bab al-Mandeb strait as an alternative trade route.