At least six people have been killed in what Yemeni authorities have described as a “double‑tap” missile strike on a commercial vessel in the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait.

The internationally recognised government of Yemen has blamed Iran‑backed Houthi rebels for the attack, which targeted the cargo ship Tihamah.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at the vessel, which was transporting food supplies. The initial strikes sparked a fire that killed four crew members, identified as three Pakistanis and one Indonesian. Four other crew members and one rescue worker were injured in the incident.

The ministry further stated that the Houthis struck the ship a second time after search and rescue operations had begun. Officials described this as a deliberate attempt to endanger the lives of those onboard, including the rescue teams. The Yemeni Coast Guard later confirmed that two of the dead were rescue workers.

There was initial confusion regarding the ownership of the vessel. Yemeni officials and the marine intelligence group Marisks initially reported that a Saudi‑owned ship had been hit. However, data from MarineTraffic clarified that the Tihamah sails under the Tanzanian flag and is owned by companies registered in Egypt and Yemen.

The attack coincided with wider regional tensions. The newly announced Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia appears to have faced its first major test. Analysts noted that the alliance offered no visible military response or deterrent after Houthi rebels struck an Aramco refinery in Jazan.

The fire at the refinery began on Sunday morning. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility, stating that the group had targeted the facility with a drone in retaliation for Saudi drone operations over Saada and Hajjah governorates.

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry later confirmed the fire at the refinery and reported that it had been extinguished. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of the newly formed defence pact and the ability of regional powers to respond to escalating Houthi attacks.

The Bab al‑Mandeb Strait remains one of the world’s most strategically vital maritime corridors, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Continued attacks on vessels in this area threaten global shipping and energy supplies, while the Houthis’ use of “double‑tap” tactics underscores the growing risks faced by both crews and rescue teams.

ANI