Houthis kill four in first deadly attack since start of Iran war, Yemen says
The attack was reportedly carried out by Iranian proxy on a small cargo ship, as tensions in region over the US-Iran conflict remain high.
An attack on a small cargo ship in the Red Sea has left four people dead, marking the first deadly strike by the Iran-backed Houthi group since the US and Israel initiated conflict against Iran. The Yemeni government reported that three ballistic missiles were fired at the ship, causing a fire and resulting in the deaths of three Pakistani and one Indonesian crew members.
The Houthi group initiated attacks on shipping last month, announcing a naval blockade of Saudi ports. The Yemeni transport ministry stated the ship was carrying food and was hit south of the port of Mocha. The Houthis have not yet admitted to carrying out the attack. The ongoing regional conflict has escalated tensions, with the Houthis attacking Saudi tankers and oil facilities.
The conflict began after a truce in Yemen's civil war collapsed, with the Houthi group controlling much of northwestern Yemen. The ship, named Tihamah, is believed to be in the Red Sea off Warner Point, sailed under the flag of Tanzania and owned by an Egyptian operator.
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