A mine explosion off Yemen's Red Sea coast has resulted in 4 sailors dead and several injured, raising concerns over maritime security in the region.
Mine Explosion on Yemen's Red Sea Coast: 4 Sailors Dead
The Yemeni Ministry of Interior announced that four sailors aboard a moving vessel lost their lives due to a mine explosion off the coast of Salif Port, located in the western part of the country, and that others were injured.
In a statement published on the ministry's website, it was noted that a wooden cargo ship was sailing near Et-Tarfa Island, close to the Houthi-controlled Salif Port, when a naval mine exploded.
The statement reported that four out of approximately 14 crew members aboard the ship lost their lives as a result of the explosion, while the remaining sailors were injured, some of them seriously. It was recorded that the injured were taken by fishermen to Tarfa Island and then transported to the city of Zebid in Al-Hudaydah for treatment.
The statement indicated that the ship had arrived from Djibouti and had entered Muha Port in Taiz province for inspection last Sunday before setting sail towards Salif Port.
It was mentioned in the statement that the deceased sailors were residents of the Zu Bab region in Taiz province. While no individual or party was blamed, no details were provided regarding the nature of the mine or whether it was a remnant of war.
No statement has yet been made by the Houthis regarding the incident.
The Red Sea is known to be one of the busiest trade routes in the world, and in recent years, attacks on commercial vessels and mine threats, particularly by Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen, have posed significant dangers to civilian ships traveling through these waters. This situation has raised serious concerns within the international maritime security community and increased ship insurance costs.
Attacks on commercial vessels by the Houthis have been reported between 2023 and 2025. For instance, in September 2025, the Greek-owned cargo ship 'Eternity C' sank due to Houthi attacks, resulting in at least four crew members dead; other crew members were rescued or went missing.
The broader impact of the conflicts in the region: The conflict between the Houthis in Yemen and international coalition forces has complicated the security situation in the Red Sea. In 2025, air operations by the U.S. and its allies against Houthi targets in Yemen and negotiations over ceasefires took place; this has heightened global concerns regarding the security of trade routes in the region.
International agencies and media reporting on maritime attacks and mine threats against commercial vessels in Yemen as an 'increasing danger on trade routes and a risk to the global economy' illustrate how the security situation in the region affects global trade routes.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
