Red Sea Tensions Rise: Houthis Claim Missile Attack on Saudi Oil Tanker
The Houthi group in Yemen announced it used ballistic missiles to attack a Saudi oil tanker. This incident happened in the Red Sea. The group said the tanker, named NCC GHAZAL, broke its rule against Saudi vessels. This rule is part of a naval blockade the Houthis began more than a week ago.
Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, posted about the attack. He said the group used several missiles. These missiles forced the Saudi ship to turn back. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) later confirmed an explosion. UKMTO monitors sea safety. They reported that the crew was safe. No damage to the environment was reported.
The Houthis took control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014. Since then, they have been fighting Yemen’s government. Saudi Arabia supports the Yemeni government. This conflict has lasted for over ten years.
On July 20, the Houthis announced their naval blockade. They said Saudi leaders had put “an unjust and oppressive siege” on Yemen for almost 12 years. The Houthis also accused Saudi Arabia of “plundering our resources” and creating “a comprehensive blockade.” They stated their right to respond to this blockade with their own.
Last week, on July 22, the Houthis also claimed another attack. They said they targeted two more Saudi oil tankers. These ships were named Encelia and Layla. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said these tankers also broke the blockade decision. The Saudi Press Agency later confirmed that the Encelia had been hit. An official source said all crew members on the Encelia were safe.
The Bab al-Mandeb strait is a very important shipping route. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Many oil exports pass through this strait. The strait is only about 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point. This limits traffic to two channels. Ships use these channels to go to and from the Suez Canal. In 2024, about 4.1 billion barrels of oil passed through this strait. This was about five percent of the world’s total.
