Allegations of War Crimes Against Civilian Vessels
Beirut – Human Rights Watch has declared that the latest Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden likely constitute war crimes in at least three instances. These assaults follow the group’s July 20, 2026 announcement of a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, a move they justified as retaliation for alleged Saudi naval and aerial blockades on Yemen. The Houthis control the northwestern portion of the country.
The recent wave of violence targeted at least two vessels flying the Saudi flag, one bearing the Tanzanian flag, and another under the flag of Dominica. Under international law, intentional or reckless attacks on civilians or civilian objects qualify as war crimes. Nico Jaffarnejad, a researcher for Yemen and Bahrain at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that the Houthis are repeatedly endangering sailors’ lives within the context of their conflict with the Saudi-led coalition. She noted that regardless of geopolitical considerations, deliberate or reckless attacks on civilian crews are criminal acts.
Specific Incidents and Evidence Review
By August 24, the Houthis claimed responsibility for attacking at least nine ships since late July. Authorities in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, along with shipping companies and ship captains, confirmed four specific incidents involving the vessels Ensilia, Daisy, Tihama, and Amazan. The Houthis were only explicit about military objectives in the attack on Tihama, claiming it carried Saudi military equipment. Additionally, Saudi Press Agency and a shipping operator reported an attack on the MSC Massa on July 24, which the Houthis did not claim.
Human Rights Watch analyzed data from the UK Maritime Trade Operations, vessel tracking websites, and verified online images and videos following the Tihama incident. The organization contacted Bunker Holding, which operates Daisy and Ensilia; Bahri, which operates Amazan; and Thabab Marine Services, owner of Tihama, but received no responses. Evidence reviewed suggests the Houthis knew or should have known these were civilian ships carrying non-combatants, as they provided no proof of military cargo.
On July 23, the Houthis stated they used ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones to target two Saudi-flagged oil tankers, including Ensilia. Official Saudi sources confirmed fire broke out on the bow of Ensilia but affirmed the safety of all crew members and environmental protection measures. On August 5, the Houthis announced an attack on the Dominica-flagged Daisy in the Gulf of Aden. The captain reported a strong explosion causing minor damage, but the crew remained safe, and the vessel continued to Djibouti.
The most lethal incident occurred on August 11 against the Tanzanian-flagged open-top cargo ship Tihama in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Yemeni government-aligned spokesperson Wadih Al-Dubaisi reported a civilian ferry was hit. The Yemeni Ministry of Transport stated the ship suffered three successive ballistic missile strikes, killing at least four crew members, including three Pakistanis and one Indonesian, as well as two Yemeni Coast Guard rescue personnel, with ten others injured. While the Houthis later claimed the ship carried military equipment, the Ministry of Transport described it as a civilian vessel carrying food supplies. Human Rights Watch could not verify the cargo nature or confirm if military equipment was present, noting that even if it were, the attack must meet proportionality requirements under international humanitarian law.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
