Houthis launch missile attack on Saudi ship:3 killed, including 2 Pakistanis; 8 ships targeted in Red Sea so far

According to media linked to the Yemeni government, Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked a ship in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Three crew members were killed in the attack, including two Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national. Yemeni government-backed media reported the incident on Tuesday. Al-Jumhuriya TV said that two Pakistani citizens and one Indonesian citizen were killed in the Houthi attack in Yemen. Ship’s name not disclosed Al-Jumhuriya TV did not reveal the name of the ship targeted in the attack. According to Iran’s ISNA news agency, the vessel was a Saudi ship and was hit by a missile. The Houthi group has been attacking ships in nearby waters after announcing a blockade of Saudi Arabia. It has also carried out attacks inside Saudi Arabia. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait has been a key focus of these attacks. The waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Impact on ship movement in the Red Sea Houthi attacks have affected Saudi Arabia’s oil exports and disrupted maritime traffic. For security reasons, many ships have been avoiding the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Ships are now taking routes around Africa to reach Western countries. This is delaying the delivery of goods, increasing shortages, creating supply chain problems and raising daily costs. Iran and Saudi Arabia face off in Yemen Iran and Saudi Arabia are involved in a proxy conflict in Yemen, with both countries supporting opposing sides. Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognised Yemeni government, while Iran backs the Houthis. The Houthi group controls a large part of Yemen. The Houthis also regularly attacked ships in the Red Sea in 2023 and 2024, affecting maritime traffic. The impact of these attacks is being felt more strongly now as the world is already dealing with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic slow in Hormuz and Suez Canal Iran is not allowing ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while the Houthis are now attacking ships travelling through the Red Sea. Around 20% of the world’s oil and gas traffic passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The Suez Canal connects the Eastern and Western hemispheres through the Red Sea. As a result, ship traffic through both major waterways has slowed significantly.