It is the Houthi rebels’ second attack on a merchant vessel in the Red Sea this week, and their first deadly ship attack since June 2024.

Four sailors were confirmed dead on Wednesday after Yemen’s Houthi rebels hit a cargo ship in the Red Sea, marking the most lethal attack in the Iran-backed militants’ campaign against vessels in the strategic waterway.

Yemen’s Houthi militants sank two commercial ships and killed sailors during three days of attacks in the Red Sea this week — a stark reminder to vessel owners and crews of the risks of traversing the maritime chokepoint.