Egypt denies reports Houthi attack targeted Egyptian ship off Yemen

The Egyptian transport ministry has rejected allegations that a vessel named TIHAMA, which was attacked by Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen, was Egyptian-owned or operated by an Egyptian company. The ministry explicitly stated that the ship is not registered with Egyptian shipping authorities and lacks an Egyptian maritime or logistics license, with its operating company headquartered in Dubai, not Alexandria.

According to a Thursday statement from the ministry, the TIHAMA operates under the Tanzania flag, is owned by a Yemeni national, and is managed by Blue Sea for Management Marine's Dubai branch. The ministry emphasized that the TIHAMA was off the Yemeni coast during the attack, had not entered Egyptian ports, and was neither heading to Egypt nor transporting Egyptian cargo.

The ministry reaffirmed its dedication to overseeing events in Egyptian territorial waters and safeguarding the security of Mediterranean and Red Sea waters, as well as protecting Egyptian companies, vessels, and mariners. The transport ministry dismissed reports from certain media outlets and social media platforms about the TIHAMA, urging all to verify information about the ministry's stance and obtain accurate details directly from official Egyptian sources, including the Ministry of Transport.