Houthi Attacks on Commercial Ships Likely War Crimes

The Houthi armed group's latest attacks on commercial shipping likely amount to war crimes in at least three cases, according to Human Rights Watch. The attacks, which began after a Houthi maritime embargo announcement on July 20, 2026, have targeted vessels including Saudi, Tanzanian, and Dominica-flagged ships.

Niku Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated the group is putting seafarers' lives at deadly risk. "Whatever the geopolitics, attacks on civilian crews carried out deliberately or recklessly are war crimes," Jafarnia said.

Details of the Attacks

As of August 24, the Houthis claimed to have targeted at least nine vessels since July. Saudi and Yemeni authorities, shipping companies, and a ship's master confirmed four specific attacks. Human Rights Watch reviewed data from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and vessel tracking websites to corroborate details.

The organization wrote to the operating companies of the ships Daisy, Encelia, Amzan, and Tihamah but received no responses. Evidence indicates the Houthis knew or should have known that the Encelia, Daisy, and Amzan were commercial vessels with civilian crews.

Confirmed Incidents and Casualties

The attack on the Tanzanian-flagged Tihamah on August 11 resulted in fatalities. According to the Yemeni government's Transport Ministry, the vessel was hit by three consecutive ballistic missiles in the Bab el-Mandab Strait. The attack killed at least four crew members-three Pakistani and one Indonesian national-and two rescuers from the Yemeni Coast Guard. At least ten others were injured.

Though the Houthis later claimed the Tihamah was transporting Saudi military equipment, the Yemeni Transportation Ministry stated it was a commercial civilian vessel carrying food supplies. Human Rights Watch verified photographs and a video geolocated to the strait showing smoke billowing from the ship but could not independently confirm the cargo.

Other attacks caused damage but no reported crew fatalities. The Saudi-flagged Encelia was hit on July 23 and caught fire at the bow, though all crew were reported safe. The Dominica-flagged Daisy experienced a loud explosion on August 5 causing minor damage, with the crew unharmed and the vessel proceeding to Djibouti. The Saudi-flagged Amzan was targeted with a ballistic missile on August 24; its operating company confirmed all crew members were safe.

Legal Framework and Houthi Justifications

International humanitarian law protects civilians and civilian objects from attack. Parties to a conflict must verify targets are military objectives and take precautions to minimize civilian harm. Serious violations committed intentionally or recklessly are war crimes.

The Houthis announced the maritime embargo in response to what they claim is a Saudi sea and air blockade on Yemen. They stated a military objective only for the attack on the Tihamah. Human Rights Watch wrote to the Houthis on September 7 asking for evidence of military targets onboard but received no response.

Even if military equipment was aboard the Tihamah, any attack on a vessel with a civilian crew is subject to proportionality rules. Disproportionate attacks that cause excessive civilian harm relative to military advantage are unlawful.

Pattern of Attacks and Detention

The Houthis have repeatedly attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea since November 2023. Human Rights Watch has previously found these attacks are likely war crimes. The group also continues to hold the vessel Galaxy Leader, which it seized over a year ago, and detained its 25 crew members for over a year.

In response to the threats, the Saudi-led coalition carried out military strikes on July 25 against sites it said the Houthis used to threaten commercial vessels. The coalition spokesperson stated it would continue measures to protect its vessels. Human Rights Watch has not investigated those coalition strikes.

Civilian crew members should not have to put their lives at risk to carry out their jobs, Jafarnia said. The researcher called for the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally end all unlawful attacks on civilian ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.