3 Pakistanis among six die as multiple ships attacked in Gulf waters
The attacks have raised fresh concerns in a major energy trading route. Yemen’s coastguard said a Houthi strike on the cargo ship Tihamah killed four sailors and two rescue personnel.
The vessel was carrying an international crew, including three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national among those killed.
The first strike reportedly caused a fire and extensive damage to the ship.
The coastguard said another strike hit the area while rescue teams were trying to evacuate the crew.
More ships reported under attack
The coastguard said 10 people were injured during the attacks on the Tihamah.
The incident has added to growing concerns over the safety of commercial ships using the region’s important waterways.
Yemen’s coastguard on Tuesday said strikes by Houthis on a cargo vessel killed at least six people, including three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national, near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait off the country’s coast.
The coastguard from Yemen’s internationally recognised… pic.twitter.com/QneD9BuVs8
The Saba news agency separately reported that Houthis attacked a Saudi ship carrying military equipment near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
There was no immediate confirmation of the reported attack from Saudi authorities.
A Houthi-linked media outlet also said the group’s forces had targeted a ship carrying Saudi military equipment.
However, the Houthis had not officially commented on the reported attack, while Pakistan’s Foreign Office had also not issued a statement on the Pakistani casualties.
Vela Nova hit near Pakistan
Separately, the Panama-flagged container ship Vela Nova was struck while sailing toward the Gulf of Oman off Pakistan.
Maritime security sources told Reuters that the vessel was hit by a missile during the incident.
The Wall Street Journal reported that a US helicopter fired a Hellfire missile at the ship’s rudder after it allegedly tried to avoid a US blockade of Iran-linked shipping.
Centcom later said US forces fired missiles into the engine room of the Panama-flagged vessel after its crew ignored repeated warnings.
Centcom said the US Navy MH-60 helicopter disabled the M/V Vela Nova “after the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces, Centcom claimed.
The incident was described as the 12th vessel attacked by US forces since the blockade was announced in April and the third since it was re-imposed on July 14.
The vessel had recently visited Mumbai and Port Klang in Malaysia, where Iran-linked ships have also been reported.
Charlie Brown, senior advisor at United Against Nuclear Iran, said the incident showed increased scrutiny of shipping linked to Iran.
“The reported US disabling and stopping of the Panama-flagged Vela Nova near the blockade line in the Gulf of Oman, after its recent Mumbai port call alongside these vessels, underscores the heightened scrutiny now being applied to Iran-related shipping,” he said.
The ship was reportedly hit about 71 nautical miles from Pakistan’s coast, according to maritime risk management group Vanguard.
The latest incidents show that risks for commercial ships are rising across important sea routes in the region.
The deaths of three Pakistanis also make the situation especially important for Pakistan.
The attacks could create more pressure on shipping companies using the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and Gulf of Oman routes.
Any further escalation could affect shipping safety, delivery times and energy trade in the wider region.
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