Attack on Cargo Ship in Bab el‑Mandeb Kills Three

Overview

• The Egyptian-owned cargo ship Tihamah was hit northeast of Perim Island on Tuesday, and Yemeni coast guard and government sources said three crew members died.
• Sources identified the dead as two Pakistanis and one Indonesian and said the vessel was struck while anchored by an unknown projectile reported to UKMTO and the security firm Ambrey.
• The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for this specific strike even though they declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia on July 20 and have carried out recent attacks on shipping.
• A separate report said the container ship Vela Nova was struck near Pakistan in an incident the Wall Street Journal linked to a U.S. helicopter firing a Hellfire missile, and U.S. Central Command had no immediate comment.
• Red Sea and Bab el‑Mandeb transits have fallen by more than half since earlier Houthi actions and the July blockade, raising short‑term risks to oil routes and pushing shipping to longer, costlier detours.