A small cargo ship in the Red Sea was reportedly attacked by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. This incident marks the first deadly strike by the group on a vessel since the escalation of the US-Iran conflict. The Yemeni government stated that the ship was carrying food and described the attack as an escalation in the Houthis' approach.
The Houthis have been active in targeting shipping since announcing a naval blockade of Saudi ports last month. The ongoing conflict in the region has seen a collapse of a truce in Yemen's civil war, further complicating the situation as the Houthis control significant territory in north-western Yemen.