Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group has claimed responsibility for firing ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, following their recent declaration of a naval blockade on Saudi vessels in the area.

In a post on X, Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesman, stated that the group conducted a military operation targeting the Saudi oil tanker NCC GHAZAL for violating the maritime navigation ban imposed by the Houthis. Saree added that several ballistic missiles were used, forcing the vessel to retreat.

The Houthis announced their maritime blockade on July 20, accusing Saudi leaders of imposing “an unjust and oppressive siege” on Yemen for nearly 12 years and plundering its resources. On July 22, Saree said the group targeted two Saudi oil tankers, Encelia and Layla, for violating the blockade.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that the tanker Encelia had been hit, citing an official source at Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority who confirmed all crew members were safe. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a maritime security monitor, also said a tanker reported an explosion while transiting the Red Sea but that the crew was safe and no environmental damage was reported.

The Red Sea strait, located between Yemen to the northeast and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa to the southwest, is just 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point. This limits maritime traffic to two channels for vessels heading to and from the Suez Canal.

The Houthis seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and have been engaged in conflict with the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, for over a decade.

Sources