The Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Domínguez, has condemned the attack carried out by Houthi rebels against the merchant vessel 'Tihama' off the coast of Yemen, warning that this type of action against international commercial navigation puts global trade and supply chains at risk.
Domínguez has stated in a statement that these continued attacks "only serve to escalate tensions and threaten the global supply chains that everyone depends on" and has emphasized that "ensuring the safety of sailors is a fundamental obligation under International Law and a shared responsibility of the global community."
"It is regrettable to know that, once again, innocent sailors have lost their lives in an unjustifiable attack against international maritime transport. I express my sincerest condolences to the families of those affected," added the IMO official, expressing his sorrow for the fatalities.
At the same time, he has urged shipping companies and ship owners to "thoroughly assess the risks" before crossing this area. He insisted that "sailors deserve protection and should be allowed to do their jobs in safety conditions."
The Secretary General of the IMO has also called for "the immediate and unconditional release of all sailors who remain in captivity following the piracy attacks in the Red Sea region and the Gulf of Aden," reminding of the persistence of insecurity in these strategic routes.
According to the Yemeni Coast Guard, in the attack with three missiles launched by the Houthis, six people died --three Pakistani sailors, one Indonesian, and two members of the Yemeni Armed Forces-- and another ten were injured, in addition to significant material damage to the vessel.
The Houthi insurgency claimed responsibility for the attack and stated in a statement that the ship was carrying "Saudi military equipment," in a context of increased armed actions between the group and the internationally recognized government, backed by Riyadh.
For his part, the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has urged all parties to halt the "escalation" in the country and to protect the civilian population and civilian infrastructure, after what he described as the most severe increase in hostilities "since the ceasefire negotiated by the UN in 2022."