**Three Killed in Attacks on Ships in Red Sea and Gulf of Oman**
In a series of maritime incidents on Tuesday, three crew members were reported killed in a suspected attack by Iran-backed Houthi forces on a small cargo vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The Egyptian-owned vessel, identified as the Tihamah, was allegedly targeted while at anchor northeast of Perim Island, Yemen. If confirmed, these fatalities would mark the first deaths resulting from a Houthi strike on shipping since the onset of the Iran conflict on February 28.
According to Yemeni sources, the deceased crew members included two Pakistanis and one Indonesian. Following the attack, the crew reportedly lost control of the Tihamah, prompting a response from the Yemeni coastguard. However, Yemeni forces soon came under fire, as noted by UK maritime risk management group Vanguard.
The Houthis, who declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea on July 20, have not yet claimed responsibility for the attack. The group has characterized the embargo as a response to what they describe as a Saudi siege, a claim that Riyadh has denied.
In a separate incident off the coast of Pakistan, a Panama-flagged container ship named Vela Nova was struck by a missile while navigating into the Gulf of Oman. Maritime security sources indicated that the vessel was attacked by a U.S. helicopter, which fired a Hellfire missile at the ship's rudder after it allegedly attempted to evade a U.S. blockade targeting Iran-linked shipping in the region.
While there has been no official comment from U.S. Central Command regarding the incident, reports suggest that this attack would be the 12th vessel targeted by U.S. forces since the blockade was implemented in April, and the third since its reimposition on July 14. The Vela Nova had recently made port calls in Mumbai and Port Klang, Malaysia, where vessels linked to Iran have also been observed.
Charlie Brown, a senior advisor at the U.S. advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), commented on the situation, stating that the reported disabling of the Vela Nova underscores the increased scrutiny being applied to Iran-related shipping. The vessel was believed to have been struck approximately 71 nautical miles off Pakistan's coast, as confirmed by maritime security group Vanguard.
The ongoing tensions in the region have significantly impacted shipping traffic. Data from Kpler indicates that traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait and Red Sea has decreased by more than 50% since an earlier wave of Houthi attacks on shipping in 2023-2025. Following the Houthis' blockade announcement last month, the average number of ships passing through the strait fell to 32 per day, down from an average of 50 prior to the blockade.
Ambrey, a maritime security firm, noted that the Tihamah was not owned or operated by Saudi interests and had departed from the Yemeni government-held port of al-Mokha just days before the attack. The ship is listed as owned and managed by Egyptian companies, which have not responded to inquiries for comment.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has also seen a decline in shipping traffic, with only six vessels passing through on Monday, compared to a 10-day average of about 11 and pre-war levels that ranged between 130 to 140.
As the region grapples with escalating tensions and maritime security threats, the implications for international shipping and trade remain significant. The attacks underscore the volatility of the situation and the potential for further confrontations in the waters surrounding Yemen and the broader Gulf region.