Houthi Attack on Egyptian Cargo Ship Kills Four Crew Members in Yemen

Four crew members were killed Tuesday after Iran-backed Houthi militants attacked the Newscord, an Egyptian-owned cargo ship, in Yemen’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to Yemen’s transport ministry, the deceased include three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national.

Fatal Houthi Strike Hits Egyptian Vessel in Bab el-Mandeb

The attack involved the firing of three ballistic missiles, which caused significant damage to the vessel and sparked a fire. The British maritime security company Ambrey reported that the Tihamah was anchored northeast of Perim Island at the time of the incident.

The casualties increased during subsequent rescue efforts. Yemen’s coast guard stated that a second missile struck the site of the rescue operation, killing at least two troops from an anti-Houthi military group. In total, 10 people were injured, including seven crew members, two Coast Guard personnel, and one member of the National Resistance Forces (NRF).

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the attack on the non-combatant vessel and confirmed that Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry is coordinating with Yemen and Saudi Arabia to gather further details.

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Regional Escalation and Shipping Disruptions

The strike on the Tihamah is described as the first fatal Houthi attack on commercial shipping since the start of the war on Iran on February 28. This escalation follows the collapse of a years-long truce in Yemen’s civil war.

The Houthis claimed they targeted a ship carrying Saudi military equipment in the Bab el-Mandeb, though they did not name the vessel. Yemen’s Foreign Minister-designate Afrah Al-Zouba has stated that the Houthi Movement is attempting to replicate Iran’s strategy in the Strait of Hormuz by disrupting shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb.

The impact on maritime trade has been severe:

• Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea: Shipping traffic has fallen by more than 50% since a previous wave of Houthi attacks between 2023 and 2025.
• Strait of Hormuz: Traffic has dropped sharply to six ships on Monday, compared to a 10-day average of 11 and prewar levels of approximately 130 to 140 vessels. Other data reported by Reuters indicated a one-week low of eight vessels.

U.S. Naval Blockade and Military Actions

In a separate operation in the Gulf of Oman, the U.S. military targeted the Indiatimes, a Panama-flagged container ship. U.S. Central Command reported firing two Hellfire missiles at the vessel after it allegedly ignored repeated warnings to stop violating a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Photo: reuters.com

Houthis Kill Four in Deadly Red Sea Cargo Ship Attack

The strike, which occurred roughly 71 nautical miles off the coast of Pakistan, disabled the ship’s steering gear.

Broader Conflict in Yemen

The internationally recognized government of Yemen reported that the Houthis have expanded their operations, launching four drones and 10 missiles at sites on the western coast, including the central city of Marib and al-Makha (Mocha).

Photo: Newscord

The United Nations has called for restraint, warning that these renewed hostilities risk drawing Yemen into a broader regional confrontation. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Foreign Ministry has urged the international community to move beyond condemnation and take effective and decisive action against the Houthi militants.