Yemen's Houthi group claims attack on 2 Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea
Sanaa, July 23
Yemen's Houthi group said on Thursday that it had carried out a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, claiming the vessels had violated the group's recently announced maritime restrictions.
In a statement aired by the group's Al-Masirah television, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said Houthi forces targeted the tankers, identified as ENCELIA and LAYLA, using "ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones."
Sarea said the vessels were targeted for violating the embargo imposed by the group's armed forces on ships calling at Saudi ports. He claimed the strikes caused fires to engulf both tankers and had "successfully achieved their objectives."
The statement did not specify the location of the incident or provide evidence of the alleged damage, and it did not say whether there were any casualties, reports Xinhua news agency.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report of an incident involving a tanker about 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia.
In a warning report posted on social media platform X, UKMTO said the vessel's master reported being struck by an "unknown projectile," causing a fire on board that the crew was attempting to extinguish.
The Houthi claim came two days after the group announced expanded maritime restrictions targeting vessels trading with Saudi ports, warning that ships violating the measure could become "subject to targeting."
The group said the measure was a response to the continued closure of Sanaa International Airport, accusing Saudi Arabia of backing restrictions on air traffic to Houthi-controlled areas.
The Houthis have previously used missiles, drones, and naval weapons against vessels they accused of being linked to Israel and the United States during the Gaza war, forcing shipping companies to divert vessels away from the Red Sea, a vital corridor for international trade and energy shipments.
The latest development could further heighten risks to commercial navigation in the region, amid US-Iran conflict over the control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in support of the Yemeni government in 2015. The latest development has fueled concerns that the de-escalation since a 2022 UN truce could unravel.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The Houthis are using the Gaza conflict as a pretext to expand their own agenda. Blockading Saudi ports and attacking oil tankers is just creating more instability in an already fragile region. The UN truce from 2022 was a small step toward peace, but looks like it's going nowhere now.
I just don't understand how the international community allows these attacks to continue. Houthis are using ballistic missiles and drones against civilian tankers? This is piracy, plain and simple. Saudi Arabia should respond firmly.
While the Houthis are wrong, let's not forget the root cause: Yemen's civil war and the suffering of ordinary Yemenis. Saudi Arabia's blockade of Houthi-controlled areas has caused a humanitarian catastrophe. Both sides need to come to the table. A missile attack on a tanker is just the symptom of a larger disease.
As an Indian, this hits close to home. We import nearly 80% of our oil and the Red Sea route is vital. Any disruption here means higher fuel prices, inflation, and a weaker rupee. The government should be proactive in engaging with Saudi and Iran to ensure freedom of navigation. 🚢
Classic Houthi propaganda—they make grand claims about "successful strikes" but never provide any evidence. No satellite images, no video, nothing. I'll wait for independent verification before believing a word. Also, UKMTO reporting a fire could be from something else entirely.
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