Pakistan fumes after Iran-backed Houthis kill 3 nationals in Bab el-Mandeb strike

Pakistan has strongly condemned a Houthi attack on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea that killed three Pakistani nationals, putting Islamabad in an awkward position as it seeks closer security ties with Saudi Arabia while maintaining relations with Iran.

The attack took place on Tuesday near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Six people were killed in the strike, including three Pakistanis, while another Pakistani national was injured.

Pakistan Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the attack on Wednesday, calling it a threat to freedom of navigation and maritime security.

He said Islamabad was coordinating with Saudi authorities and Yemen’s internationally recognised government to arrange the repatriation of the victims and provide assistance to the injured.

Attack puts Pakistan’s new security understanding under scrutiny

The timing of the attack is significant. It comes only days after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed the Mecca agreement, under which the three countries agreed that an attack on any one of them would be treated as an attack on all.

The latest incident now puts that understanding in an early test, particularly as the Houthis are backed by Iran, with which Pakistan has traditionally maintained close ties despite its growing strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Pakistan said attacks on commercial vessels violate international law and endanger innocent lives, but Islamabad stopped short of directly blaming Iran for the incident.

Bab el-Mandeb gains importance amid Hormuz crisis

The attack has also added to concerns over shipping in the Red Sea at a time when the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed because of the wider Iran conflict.

Bab el-Mandeb is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints and provides an alternative route for energy shipments from the Gulf towards global markets. Any prolonged disruption there could further complicate an already strained global shipping network.

The renewed Houthi attacks come amid an escalation in fighting in Yemen and strikes targeting government forces and oil-related infrastructure in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

Much of the violence has been concentrated around the government-held port city of Mokha on the Red Sea.

The latest escalation has also raised fears that Yemen’s fragile peace could unravel. The country had largely avoided a return to full-scale civil war since a truce in 2022, but dozens of government troops and civilians have reportedly been killed in recent attacks.

For Pakistan, however, the deaths of its nationals bring a more immediate diplomatic dilemma. Islamabad is seeking deeper security cooperation with Saudi Arabia while also avoiding a direct confrontation with Iran.