Cargo ship in flames after Houthi attack in Bab al-Mandeb strait

Six crew members tragically lost their lives in a Houthi attack on a Yemeni commercial vessel, the Tahama, as it sailed through the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday morning. The attack involved three ballistic missiles, leading to a fire and significant damage to the ship, according to the Yemeni Transport Ministry. Ten crew members and a rescue team member were injured in the incident.

The ministry identified the fatalities as three Pakistanis and an Indonesian sailor. The Houthi rebels, who have not commented on the attack, are known for their defiance of international law and conventions. The Houthis came to power in Yemen in 2014, sparking a civil war that the internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, continues to fight.

The Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, a strategic maritime corridor, has seen increasing tensions in recent times. Separately, Yemen's recognized government forces reported launching another round of ballistic missile attacks on the Red Sea port city of al-Makha and residential areas in Marib. These attacks occurred a day after Houthi forces killed at least seven people and wounded 30 others in Al-Makha, causing significant damage to the city's port.

The conflict between the Houthis and the government forces persists, with each side accusing the other of aggression, as evidenced by the recent drone strike on Yemeni soldiers in Shabwa province.