Six dead in the Red Sea, warning shots in Hormuz

The conflict between Washington and Tehran is concentrating on the two sea passages that link the Gulf to Europe. In the past hours both have seen violence.

In the Bab el-Mandeb strait the Liberian-flagged cargo ship Tihamah was hit by three ballistic missiles while in transit. Four crew members died: three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian. Four others were injured. Two Yemeni soldiers also died during the rescue operation, bringing the overall toll to six.

Yemen's pro-Saudi authorities attribute the attack to the Houthi rebels. The group has not claimed the action, but in recent weeks it had announced that it would target Saudi vessels. According to the account released, these are the first deaths in the Red Sea since the war between the United States and Iran began on 28 February.

The blockade of Iranian ports

In the Strait of Hormuz, on the other front, a US helicopter opened fire on a Panamanian-flagged vessel. The ship was attempting to run the blockade the United States has imposed on Iranian ports and had ignored the warnings issued before the shots were fired. No casualties are reported.

The two episodes have distinct origins but a common effect on commercial traffic. Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz are compulsory passages for the tankers and container ships that connect Asia to Europe: avoiding them means sailing around Africa, at appreciably higher cost and with longer transit times. Each attack further reduces the number of shipowners willing to make the crossing.

The market reacted during the day. Brent rose to 90 dollars a barrel before falling back after remarks by Pakistan's defence minister, who spoke of a form of understanding taking shape between Iran and the United States. The price movement indicates how uncertain the picture remains: the same day produced a signal of escalation and one of possible de-escalation.

US President Donald Trump defended his pressure strategy, arguing that Iran's economic situation is not sustainable in the long run. That is the reasoning behind the port blockade: the idea that economic cost will bring Tehran to negotiate before the conflict widens.

For the crew of the Tihamah, strategic calculation counts for little. The victims are seafarers from countries that are not party to the conflict, serving on a ship under a flag of convenience: the group that pays first when a trade route becomes a front line.