Yemeni Rebels Claim Missile Strike on Saudi Tanker, Red Sea Tensions Rise
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for an attack on a Saudi oil tanker. They said their forces used a ballistic missile. The incident took place in the Red Sea on Monday. The Houthis stated the strike was precise. It caused a fire to break out on the vessel. Other ships in the area then fled.
The Houthis announced this attack follows their decision. They want to ban Saudi maritime navigation. This is part of a wider maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. Yemen has been in a civil conflict for over ten years. In July, the Houthis ended a 2022 truce. This pulled Yemen further into the Middle East conflict.
Hours after the Houthi claim, a British maritime agency reported an incident. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker was hit by an “unknown projectile.” This caused a fire off Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. The UKMTO confirmed that all crew members were safe. They also reported no environmental impact from the fire.
The incident happened about 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu. Yanbu is a Saudi city on the Red Sea coast. British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech also confirmed the attack. They said a Saudi-flagged vessel was hit by a missile. This vessel then caught fire.
The Houthis began attacking Saudi ships last month. They declared a maritime blockade against their Saudi opponents. Hostilities increased in July. This was after the rebels welcomed an Iranian plane in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. This event started a series of back-and-forth attacks.
Since the recent fighting began, the Houthis have hit Saudi tankers in the Red Sea. They have also attacked Yemeni government forces. The rebels have repeatedly targeted Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure. They have also aimed at Saudi airports.
