Houthi attack in the Red Sea kills six as US strikes vessel near Hormuz

Houthi forces struck a cargo vessel in the Red Sea on Tuesday, killing six crew members in what officials described as the first fatal attack in the corridor in more than a year. The incident renewed alarm over the toll the broader US-Iran conflict is taking on global shipping lanes. The Yemen-based group has targeted vessels in the corridor intermittently since the war expanded, but fatalities had been rare in recent months.

Separately the same day, the US military struck a container ship near the Gulf of Oman that it said was attempting to break an Iran blockade. Both incidents came as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have escalated sharply in recent weeks. The strait remains one of the world's most critical chokepoints for oil and gas shipments, carrying a large share of global seaborne crude.

Shipping companies said they were weighing route diversions and longer voyages to avoid the area given the rising risk. Analysts warned the attacks are likely to push up insurance premiums and freight costs across affected trade lanes. Oil prices edged higher in early trading as traders weighed the potential for further disruption to regional supply.