Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Houthi attacks in Red Sea kill crew, target Saudi-linked ships
A group called the Houthis, who fight in a country called Yemen, has been attacking ships in the Red Sea, a big waterway between Africa and Asia.
They say they are doing this because of a war between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other.
They have also been targeting ships linked to Saudi Arabia.
On August 11, one of their attacks hit a cargo ship called the Tihamah.
Sadly, three sailors, two from Pakistan and one from Indonesia, died in that attack.
It was the first time in this round of attacks that sailors were killed.
In another attack, an Indian ship sank, but all 14 people on board were rescued.
The attacks have made it more dangerous for ships to travel in the area, so some ships are taking different routes and insurance costs more.
Attacks have also hit land, including a city called Mokha where at least seven people were killed.
Countries disagree about who is right in this conflict, and the Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the attack on the Tihamah.
On Aug 11, Houthi rebels struck the Tanzania-flagged cargo vessel Tihamah in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, killing two Pakistani and one Indonesian crew member.
The Tihamah attack is the first in the latest escalation to kill commercial crew members; the Houthis had not claimed responsibility at the time of writing.
Since mid-July, Houthi attacks using missiles, drones and unmanned surface vessels have disproportionately targeted Saudi-flagged or Saudi-linked ships, including Encelia, Layla, NCC Masa, NCC Ghazal, NCC Wafa and Daisy.
On Aug 4, the India-flagged MSV Faize Noore Oliya was hit and sank near Al Hudaydah, with all 14 crew members rescued by Yemeni authorities.
On Aug 9, a Houthi attack on Mokha killed at least seven people and wounded about 30, while strikes have also targeted Saudi Aramco-related sites in Jizan and Yanbu and, since March 28, Israel.
- Who
- Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen
- What
- Attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea area, including the fatal Aug 11 strike on the Tanzania-flagged vessel Tihamah, plus missile and drone attacks on Saudi-linked vessels and targets in Yemen and Israel
- When
- Escalation since late March 2026; the Tihamah attack occurred on Tuesday, Aug 11
- Where
- Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden and waters off Yemen
- Why
- The Houthis frame the attacks as support for Iran amid the US-Israeli war and as a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in response to an alleged Saudi siege of Yemen, which Saudi Arabia rejects
Houthi view
Saudi and Yemeni government view
Mokha attack targets
Houthi view
The Houthis say they were targeting Saudi troop concentrations and weapons depots.
Saudi and Yemeni government view
The Yemeni military says civilian areas and infrastructure were also hit.
Blockade justification
Houthi view
The naval blockade on Saudi Arabia is a response to an alleged Saudi siege of Yemen.
Saudi and Yemeni government view
Saudi Arabia rejects the allegation of a siege of Yemen.
- Latest attack
- Tanzania-flagged cargo vessel Tihamah struck in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Aug 11
- Fatalities
- Two Pakistani and one Indonesian crew member killed
- First fatal commercial attack
- Tihamah strike is the first in the latest escalation to cause commercial crew deaths
- Sunk vessel
- India-flagged MSV Faize Noore Oliya sank on Aug 4; all 14 crew rescued
- Saudi-linked ships targeted since
- Mid-July; vessels include Encelia, Layla, NCC Masa, NCC Ghazal, NCC Wafa and Daisy
- Mokha attack
- Aug 9: at least seven killed, about 30 wounded
- Strikes on Israel resumed
- March 28, first since the Gaza ceasefire
- Navigation impact
- Rerouting of vessels and higher war-risk premiums; Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz traffic down sharply