Three crew members were killed on Tuesday in a suspected attack on a small cargo ship in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, according to sources.
The vessel, identified by sources as the Egyptian-owned Tihamah, was reportedly struck by an unknown projectile while anchored northeast of Perim Island, near Yemen.
The attack is suspected to have involved Iran-backed Houthi forces, although the group has not claimed responsibility.
First Reported Deaths Since the Iran War Began
If confirmed, the deaths would mark the first fatalities from a Houthi-linked shipping attack since the Iran war began on February 28.
Yemeni sources said the victims included two Pakistani crew members and one Indonesian crew member.
After the attack, the crew reportedly lost control of the vessel. Yemeni coastguard forces approached the ship, but later came under fire, according to maritime risk group Vanguard.
Houthis Maintain Red Sea Maritime Embargo
The Houthis announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea on July 20.
The group said the move was a response to what it called a Saudi siege on Yemen. Saudi Arabia has denied that Yemen is under siege.
The latest incident adds to already severe security concerns in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
Container Ship Hit Off Pakistan
In a separate incident, the Panama-flagged container ship Vela Nova was reportedly struck by a missile off the coast of Pakistan while sailing toward the Gulf of Oman.
Maritime security sources said the ship was hit around 71 nautical miles from Pakistan’s coast.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency also said it had received a report involving a container ship in the area.
Report Points to Possible U.S. Strike
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Vela Nova was attacked by a U.S. helicopter, which allegedly fired a Hellfire missile at the ship’s rudder.
The report said the vessel had attempted to avoid a U.S. blockade targeting Iran-linked shipping in the region.
There was no immediate comment from U.S. Central Command.
If confirmed, the strike would be the 12th vessel targeted by U.S. forces since the blockade was announced in April. It would also be the third such attack since the blockade was reimposed on July 14.
Iran-Linked Shipping Faces More Scrutiny
The Vela Nova had recently stopped at ports in Mumbai and Port Klang, Malaysia.
Charlie Brown, senior advisor at United Against Nuclear Iran, said Iran-linked vessels had also been seen in those areas.
He said the reported U.S. action near the Gulf of Oman blockade line highlights the growing pressure on ships suspected of links to Iran-related trade.
Red Sea Shipping Traffic Falls Sharply
Shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Red Sea has dropped sharply since earlier Houthi attacks on commercial vessels between 2023 and 2025.
Traffic has fallen even further since the Houthis announced their latest blockade.
According to Kpler data, an average of 32 ships per day passed through the Bab el-Mandeb last week. That is down from around 50 ships per day before the blockade.
Strait of Hormuz Traffic Also Disrupted
The disruption is even more severe in the Strait of Hormuz.
Only six vessels reportedly passed through the strait on Monday. That compares with a recent 10-day average of about 11 ships and pre-war levels of around 130 to 140 vessels.
The sharp drop highlights how rising military tensions are affecting global shipping routes and energy trade.
Shipping Risks Continue to Grow
The latest attacks show how fragile maritime security has become across the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, Gulf of Oman, and Strait of Hormuz.
With commercial ships facing growing risks from both regional armed groups and military blockades, global shipping companies may continue to avoid key trade routes until security conditions improve.
