Six Dead As Cargo Ship Blown Up Near Yemen’s Bab al-Mandeb; Yemen Government Blames Houthis

Six Dead As Cargo Ship Blown Up Near Yemen’s Bab al-Mandeb; Yemen Government Blames Houthis

ADEN, August 12 [VoM News] – A cargo vessel exploded and caught fire after being attacked near Yemen’s Bab al-Mandeb Strait this week, killing at least six people.

The Yemen government directly blamed the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for the strikes, AFP reported.

Yemen’s coastguard reported that the cargo ship, named Tihamah, was struck in an initial attack.

That bombardment started a fire and severely damaged the vessel, killing four crew members: three from Pakistan and one from Indonesia.

The coastguard continued that a second missile struck the ship as rescuers worked to evacuate the remaining crew, claiming it killed two members of the rescue team and injured several others. In all, ten people were reported injured in the assaults.

Previously, Yemen’s transport ministry had also accused the Houthis, holding them responsible for the fatalities, injuries, and destruction of the commercial vessel.

The ministry warned these attacks could lead to dire consequences for maritime safety in the region.

At the time of this report, the Houthis had not released any official statements regarding the allegations.

This event signifies yet another dangerous escalation in attacks targeting shipping in the waters around the Red Sea following the breakdown of the UN-backed truce between the Houthis and the Yemen government.

In recent weeks, tensions have escalated significantly, as the Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia.

They are attacking shipping vessels in the Red Sea, all amid elevated tensions between Iran and the United States in the wider region.