A Saudi-owned commercial vessel was reportedly struck by a missile while transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, according to maritime sources and Yemeni officials cited by CNN.
Initial reports indicated that three crew members were killed in the incident — two Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national, maritime intelligence group Marisks said.
The identity of the vessel has not yet been independently confirmed.
The reported attack comes after the Houthis warned last month that they would target Saudi vessels attempting to pass through the strait, in response to what the group described as a longstanding Saudi blockade. The Houthis control large parts of northern Yemen.
If confirmed, the incident would represent a significant escalation in attacks targeting shipping linked to Saudi Arabia and would further increase risks for vessels with Saudi ownership, management, cargo or port connections transiting the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait, Marisks said.
Shipping traffic through the strait has remained relatively stable since the Houthis announced their blockade on July 20, with around 30 vessels passing through the waterway each day.
However, some Saudi-owned and Saudi-operated tankers have opted to take the longer route around Africa rather than risk transiting the Bab al-Mandeb, underscoring the growing security concerns surrounding one of the world’s key maritime trade routes.
