Houthis claim strike on Saudi oil tanker

Houthis claim strike on Saudi oil tanker

Yemen’s Houthi movement, Ansar Allah, has claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, marking another escalation in regional maritime tensions.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group targeted the tanker with ballistic missiles near the Saudi coastal city of Yanbu. However, he did not specify the exact time of the attack or provide details about the extent of the damage or any casualties.

Saree also claimed that Houthi forces have attacked eight vessels accused of violating the Saudi naval blockade imposed on July 22. According to him, the operations forced 29 other ships to alter their routes to avoid Houthi-controlled waters.

The spokesperson vowed that the group would continue enforcing what it described as a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, warning that vessels breaching the restrictions could face further attacks.

The latest claim comes as security concerns continue to grow in the Red Sea, a vital international shipping route that has witnessed repeated attacks on commercial and energy-related vessels in recent months. Independent verification of the Houthi claims was not immediately available.