Houthi forces from Yemen attacked a Saudi commercial vessel off the coast of Mokha in the Bab el-Mandab Strait on Tuesday morning, according to reports. The attack killed three crew members—two Pakistani citizens and one Indonesian. The vessel was struck by a missile, Saudi and Yemeni media report.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement attacked a Saudi commercial vessel in the Bab el-Mandab Strait on Tuesday morning, killing three crew members, according to reports from Saudi outlet Al-Hadath and other regional media. The dead include two Pakistani citizens and one Indonesian.
The attack unfolded over several hours. Initial reports at 09:24 Jerusalem time described a maritime incident near the strait. By 09:47, sources reported that Houthis had fired multiple missiles at vessels. At 10:53, Al-Hadath reported three fatalities. The vessel was reportedly struck while sailing off the coast of Mokha, Yemen.
As The Zioneer reported earlier today, this marks one of the deadliest Houthi strikes on commercial shipping in recent months. The Bab el-Mandab strait is a strategic chokepoint through which a significant portion of global maritime trade passes. The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen's coastline, have targeted vessels since late 2023 in what they describe as solidarity with Palestinians, though the attacks have disrupted international shipping and drawn U.S. and allied responses.
The identity of the vessel beyond its Saudi ownership has not been independently confirmed. No formal claim of responsibility has been issued by the Houthis at this hour.
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