Houthi Rebels Attack Vessel in Bab el-Mandeb Strait

The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have attacked a vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, resulting in the deaths of six people. The Yemeni authorities confirmed that four crew members and two allied fighters were killed in the attack.

The Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at the Yemeni commercial vessel, according to the Transportation Ministry of Yemen's internationally recognized government. This is the first known incident of Houthi attacks on shipping off Yemen since the latest bout of fighting began.

The attack comes amid a renewed focus on the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb strait, which is an alternate route for Saudi Arabia to ship its oil. The Houthis have also been targeting government-held ports and other areas in Yemen, leading to dozens of casualties among government troops and civilians since last week.

The US military has also been involved in the conflict, firing on a Panamanian-flagged ship that tried to evade the American blockade on Iranian ports. The vessel was disabled by an American helicopter after ignoring warnings to stop.