Military boat capsizes off Yemen’s Lahj coast, leaving two dead, several missing

LAHJ, April 21 (YPA) – Two escorts of a military commander affiliated with the pro-Saudi “Al-Amaliqa Brigades” were killed on Tuesday, off the coast of Mudaraba in Yemen’s Lahj province.

According to pro-Saudi media sources, others were reported missing after a military boat capsized in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, south of the Red Sea.

The sources affirmed that the incident involved a vessel accompanying a commander from the so-called “17th Giants Brigade,” reportedly formed by the UAE in previous years and led by Majid Omar Al-Muhawli. The boat was said to have capsized near Yemen’s Mayun Island, resulting in the confirmed deaths of two escorts and several others going missing at sea. The circumstances surrounding the mission remain unclear amid conflicting reports.

The deceased were identified as Mohammed Al-Attal Al-Muhawli Al-Subaihi and Naji Saif Ghanem Al-Muhawli Al-Subaihi. The total number of missing persons and the precise cause of the incident have not been officially confirmed, with uncertainty persisting over whether it was caused by a technical malfunction, adverse weather conditions, or other operational factors.

Search and rescue operations are continuing in the area in an effort to locate any survivors and recover additional casualties. No official statement has yet been issued to clarify the circumstances of the incident or confirm the full extent of human or material losses.

The incident came amid heightened military activity in the Red Sea region, particularly around strategic maritime routes near Mayun Island, as regional tensions continue to evolve.

AA