Egypt denies links to TIHAMA vessel targeted off Yemen coast, condemns attack

CAIRO – 13 August 2026: Egypt’s Ministry of Transport has denied any connection between Egypt and the vessel TIHAMA, which was reportedly targeted by the Houthi group off the coast of Yemen.

The ministry issued a statement following reports circulated by several media outlets and social media platforms claiming that the address of the company operating the targeted vessel is located in Alexandria, Egypt.

The statement clarified that the vessel is registered under the Tanzanian flag and is owned by a Yemeni national. It is operated by Blue Sea for Management Marine through its branch in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the ministry said.

This company “is not registered with Egypt’s maritime chambers and has not been licensed by the Egyptian Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector to conduct maritime agency activities,” the statement said.

The ministry also stressed that the vessel had never previously entered Egyptian waters, was not en route to Egypt, and was not carrying any cargo belonging to Egyptians.

What Happened?

Houthi-affiliated satellite channel Al Masirah TV reported on Tuesday that the group targeted a “military equipment transport vessel” it claimed was Saudi in Bab El-Mandeb Strait.

A screenshot from Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV reporting the targeting of a vessel it claimed was Saudi and carrying military equipment, while showing a photo of the TIHAMA. Egypt said the vessel is Yemeni-owned, operated by Blue Sea for Management Marine through its Dubai branch, and flies the Tanzanian flag.

Meanwhile, Yemen Coast Guard, which operates under the internationally recognized Yemeni government, said the commercial vessel TIHAMA (IMO: 1031329) came under repeated attacks by Houthi missiles while sailing through the strait on Tuesday morning.

The Coast Guard said the attack, as well as a subsequent assault on crews involved in rescue efforts, resulted in deaths and injuries among the vessel’s crew and Yemeni forces.

Six people were killed, including four crew members — three Pakistanis and one Indonesian — while 10 others were injured, including seven crew members, according to the Coast Guard tally.

Several news websites had cited Reuters as reporting that the vessel is Egyptian-owned, a claim that Egypt’s Ministry of Transport rejected in its statement issued Thursday, two days after the incident.

Egypt Condemns Attack

Shortly after the Transport Ministry issued its statement, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry condemned “the targeting of ships in the Red Sea, including the Yemeni commercial vessel TIHAMA, sailing under the Tanzanian flag.”

The ministry stated that the vessel was targeted by several missiles south of Al-Mokha port in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

It also condemned an earlier attack on a Saudi oil tanker on July 25.

The ministry warned that such attacks constitute “a serious threat to the security and safety of navigation in the Red Sea, one of the most important international waterways.”

Egypt reiterated its categorical rejection of all acts targeting ships and civilian facilities or threatening the security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and other international waterways.

The Foreign Ministry also stressed the paramount importance of respecting, guaranteeing and protecting freedom of international navigation in all straits and international waterways.

This should ensure the unhindered flow of international trade and global supply chains in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, the ministry added.