Pakistan has condemned a Houthi attack on the Tanzania-flagged commercial vessel Tihamah in the Red Sea that killed three Pakistani nationals and an Indonesian crew member.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he had also received reports of a Pakistani national being injured in the attack. He expressed condolences to the victims’ families and described the strike on a civilian vessel as a violation of international law and a threat to maritime security and freedom of navigation.
Dar said Pakistan was coordinating with Saudi authorities and Yemen’s internationally recognised government to establish further details. He directed the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh to facilitate the repatriation of the deceased Pakistanis and provide assistance to the injured national.
The attack reportedly caused a fire and extensive damage to the Tihamah. A subsequent strike on a rescue operation killed two members of the response team and injured several others.
The incident was among several attacks reported in the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman on Tuesday. A Saudi vessel was also reportedly targeted in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, while the Panama-flagged container ship Vela Nova was hit by a missile off Pakistan’s coast while heading towards the Gulf of Oman.
The attacks come amid heightened tensions around the Red Sea, a vital route for international commercial shipping.
