Houthis Target Yemeni Forces as Cargo Ship Faces Red Sea Assault

WHO:

CBS News - Yemen's Houthi rebels

CBS News - Government-aligned forces in Yemen

CBS News - United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center

CNBC - U.S. and Iran

WHAT:

CBS News - A cargo ship reported being "under attack by unknown armed assailants."

CBS News - The Houthis killed 16 government troops and wounded 22 in an attack on pro-government forces.

CBS News - The attack on government forces was described as the "deadliest Houthi attack in years."

CNBC - The UKMTO received a report of the cargo vessel incident, urging vessels to "transit with caution."

CNBC - Saudi Arabia has shipped about 34 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz since June 17.

WHERE:

CBS News - The cargo ship was attacked 30 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, Yemen.

CBS News - The fighting occurred south of Hodeidah, Yemen.

CNBC - The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.

WHEN:

CBS News - The cargo ship attack occurred on a Sunday.

CBS News - The fighting began late on a Friday and concluded at dawn on a Saturday.

CNBC - A memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran was signed on June 17.

WHY:

CBS News - The Houthis have threatened to begin attacking ships again.

CBS News - The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of trying to stop an Iranian plane from landing.

HOW:

CBS News - The cargo ship was attacked by a skiff that opened fire, prompting security guards to return fire.

CBS News - The Houthis attacked with snipers, drones, and mortar salvos during the fighting.

(UPDATED July 5, 2026 19:20 UTC)

Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched a deadly attack on government-aligned forces, resulting in the deaths of 16 troops and wounding 22 others, marking it as the deadliest Houthi assault in years. In a separate incident, a cargo ship was reported to be under attack by unknown armed assailants approximately 30 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, prompting the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center to advise vessels to transit with caution. The Houthis have threatened to resume attacks on ships, accusing Saudi Arabia of attempting to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, while the fighting involved snipers, drones, and mortar fire.