Two separate attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman and the Bab el-Mandeb on Tuesday disrupted shipping along two of the Middle East's most critical maritime corridors, with US forces disabling the containership Vela Nova and a separate ballistic-missile strike on the general cargoship Tihamah killing six seafarers, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM) and Yemeni authorities.
Twin incidents hit key corridors
The incidents come as CENTCOM enforces a blockade against Iranian ports that Washington reimposed in July, and as Yemen's Houthi forces continue to target vessels in the Red Sea. CENTCOM said a Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the Panama-flagged containership Vela Nova after the vessel allegedly ignored repeated warnings and continued towards an Iranian port in breach of the blockade. The strike disabled the ship's steering gear, CENTCOM reported. The command said it has now redirected 55 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two since the blockade was reinstated.
Vela Nova: disabled by US forces
UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the Vela Nova was struck around 71 nautical miles from Pakistan while westbound through international waters in the Gulf of Oman. The master reported an impact in the stern and steering compartment, leaving the ship not under command, according to UKMTO. A resulting fire was extinguished and all crew were accounted for without injury, the agency said. The 1997-built, Panama-flagged Vela Nova had been sailing from India towards the Middle East.
Tihamah: six dead in Bab el-Mandeb strike
Much further west, the Egyptian-owned general cargoship Tihamah was hit near the Bab el-Mandeb in an attack blamed on the Houthis by Yemen's internationally recognised government. Yemen's transport ministry said three Pakistani crew and one Indonesian seafarer were killed after three ballistic missiles struck the vessel, starting a fire and causing significant damage. A subsequent attack hit the area after rescue forces arrived, according to Yemen's coastguard, killing another two personnel and taking the overall death toll to six. Ten people were reported injured.
UKMTO independently confirmed that a cargo vessel had been hit by an unknown projectile off Al Mokha, resulting in casualties. Houthi-controlled Saba subsequently reported that the group's forces had attacked a ship carrying Saudi military equipment in the Bab el-Mandeb, although the brief statement did not identify the vessel.
| Vessel | Flag / ownership | Type | Location | Attack method | Reported impact | Casualties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vela Nova | Panama-flagged | Containership | Gulf of Oman, ~71 nm from Pakistan | Two Hellfire missiles from US Navy MH-60 helicopter | Steering gear disabled; stern and steering compartment hit; not under command; fire extinguished | None reported |
| Tihamah | Egyptian-owned | General cargoship | Near Bab el-Mandeb, off Al Mokha | Three ballistic missiles (blamed on Houthis by Yemen's recognised government); subsequent attack after rescuers arrived | Fire and significant damage | Six dead, ten injured |
Implications for shippers and operators
For freight forwarders and vessel operators, the twin incidents underscore the heightened risk profile along the Gulf of Oman and Bab el-Mandeb corridors. Vessels transiting these routes now face two distinct threat layers: interception by US forces enforcing the Iranian-port blockade, and Houthi missile attacks near the Red Sea chokepoint, as demonstrated on Tuesday. Operators should review voyage risk assessments against the latest CENTCOM and UKMTO advisories, confirm compliance with blockade-related directions, and ensure emergency communication and rescue coordination plans are in place. The reported casualties — including Pakistani and Indonesian crew — also highlight the need for accurate crew manifests and rapid notification procedures in the event of an incident.
Watch list
- Whether Houthi forces identify the vessel they claimed was carrying Saudi military equipment, which could further escalate tensions in the Bab el-Mandeb.
- Further CENTCOM enforcement actions under the Iranian-port blockade, following its reported tally of 55 vessels redirected, three disabled, and two boarded since July.
- Any updates from UKMTO on the condition of the Vela Nova or the Tihamah, and the status of the ten injured seafarers.
- Potential flag-state or crew-union responses to the reported deaths aboard the Tihamah.
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