Houthi Missile Strike on Cargo Ship Tihamah Raises Red Sea Shipping Risks

On August 11, a small cargo vessel anchored northeast of Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait was struck by missiles fired by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militia. The ship, identified as the Tihamah, was carrying food supplies. The attack ignited a fire, caused the crew to lose control of the vessel and resulted in the deaths of four crew members—three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian, according to Yemen’s Transport Ministry. A subsequent strike hit rescue forces, killing two members of Yemen’s National Resistance Forces and injuring ten others, including seven crew members, two coast-guard personnel and one rescue-team member.

Express TribuneFour crew, two rescuers killed in Red Sea attack; missile strike reported in Gulf France 24

The strike occurred amid the broader U.S.–Iran war that began on February 28, after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian targets. In response, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, forcing commercial traffic to rely on the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb as alternative routes. On July 20, the Houthi militia announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, describing it as retaliation for a Saudi “siege” of Yemen—a claim denied by Riyadh. The United States re-imposed a naval blockade of Iranian-linked ports in mid-April and reinforced it on July 14, authorising U.S. forces to interdict vessels attempting to breach the line.

CNBCThree killed in attacks on ships in Red Sea, Gulf, sources say France 24

• Casualties: 4 crew members killed, 2 rescue personnel killed, 10 injured.

France 24

• Ship ownership dispute: Yemen’s Transport Ministry called Tihamah a “Yemeni commercial vessel,” while the shipping database Equasis listed it as an Egyptian-owned, Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship operated by Thubab for Marine Services.

New York Times

• Traffic impact: Kpler data show an average of 32 ships per day transiting the Bab al-Mandeb last week, down from 50 before the Houthi blockade. In the Strait of Hormuz, only six vessels passed on a recent Monday, compared with a pre-war average of 130-140.

Three killed in attacks on ships in Red Sea, Gulf, sources say

• The Pakistani embassy in Riyadh will coordinate the repatriation of the deceased nationals.

Pakistan 'strongly' condemns Houthi attack on non-combatant vessel in Red Sea as violation of int'l law

• U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM): U.S. Coast Guard forces seized more than 200 packages of advanced weapons destined for Houthi-controlled areas, underscoring Washington’s effort to curb Houthi capabilities.

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Yemen’s Coast Guard described the initial salvo as causing a fire and extensive damage to the vessel, while a second missile struck the rescue operation, killing two armed-force members. After the attack, the crew lost control of the ship and were approached by Yemeni coast-guard vessels, which then came under fire, according to local sources.

France 24Express TribuneFour crew members were killed in an attack in the Red Sea; a strike on a vessel was reported near Pakistan

• Ownership: The Transport Ministry’s description of Tihamah as Yemeni conflicts with Equasis data indicating Egyptian ownership and Tanzanian registration.

New York Times

• Casualty figures: Some outlets reported three crew deaths, while others, including the Transport Ministry, cited four.

France 24

• Responsibility claim: The Houthis have not publicly claimed the attack, though a Houthi-aligned media outlet later said the target was a ship carrying Saudi military equipment.

France 24

• “Current rhetoric suggests any potential deal is still some way off, meaning risks remain skewed to the upside for oil prices,” — Warren Patterson.

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