Houthis Attack Cargo Ship in Red Sea, Killing Four Crew Members
A Houthi attack on a small cargo ship in the Red Sea has left three crew members dead, according to Yemeni authorities.
The Transportation Ministry of Yemen's internationally recognized government said four people were killed Tuesday by Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacking a vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The ministry stated that the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles on the Yemeni commercial vessel, killing three Pakistani nationals and an Indonesian crew member.
This incident marks the first known deaths from Houthi attacks on shipping off Yemen in the latest bout of fighting in the Arab country.
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut down by Iran, leading to a renewed focus on the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait at Yemen's southern tip, an alternate route for Saudi Arabia to ship its oil.