HODEIDAH — Yemeni National Resistance forces loyal to the internationally recognized government announced Tuesday that an Indian vessel sank after being struck by an explosive-laden boat off the coast of Hodeidah province, western Yemen. The National Resistance, commanded by Presidential Leadership Council member Tareq Saleh, operates along Yemen’s western coast near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The incident comes amid escalating threats to maritime security in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb, following renewed attacks on commercial shipping in July. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a strategic waterway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Hodeidah, under Houthi control, lies on the eastern shore of the Red Sea near international shipping lanes, making it a focal point in the ongoing conflict.