Three Pakistani nationals are reported to be among six people killed after a cargo ship came under attack near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, as a series of separate incidents targeting commercial vessels intensified concerns over maritime security across the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman.
According to Yemen’s coastguard, the Tanzania-flagged cargo vessel Tihamah was attacked on Tuesday, causing a fire and extensive damage. Four sailors, including three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian, were reported killed in the initial attack. A second strike occurred while rescuers were attempting to evacuate the vessel, killing two rescue personnel. Ten people were also reported injured across the attacks.
The incident came amid heightened tensions around Bab el-Mandeb, a strategically important maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The area is vital to international trade, particularly vessels travelling between Asia, the Middle East and Europe through the Suez Canal.
A separate incident was reported later involving a Saudi vessel in Bab el-Mandeb. Yemen’s Saba news agency said the ship, reportedly carrying military equipment, was attacked by the Houthis. However, Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed that account, and Dawn reported no official Houthi comment on that specific alleged attack.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office had also not issued a statement on the reported Pakistani casualties at the time of the report, making further official confirmation important as details continue to emerge.
Tensions extended into the Gulf of Oman, where the Panama-flagged container vessel Vela Nova was disabled around 71 nautical miles from Pakistan’s coast. US Central Command said American forces targeted the vessel after its crew ignored repeated warnings while allegedly attempting to breach the US blockade of Iranian ports.
The separate incidents underline the increasing danger facing commercial shipping across some of the world’s most important maritime corridors. Continued attacks can raise insurance premiums, disrupt freight schedules and force shipping companies to reassess routes, with consequences for energy supplies and international trade.
For Pakistan, the reported deaths also bring a direct human dimension to the expanding maritime crisis. The identities of the Pakistani victims had not been officially released in the reporting reviewed, while confirmation from Islamabad remained pending.
As regional tensions persist, distinguishing confirmed attacks from competing claims by governments and armed groups will remain critical. The reported deaths aboard the Tihamah are attributed to Yemen’s coastguard, while details surrounding other vessels remain subject to further official confirmation.
