Houthis claim missile strike on Saudi oil tanker in Red Sea

Yemen's Houthi group claimed on Wednesday that it struck the Saudi oil tanker Wafaa with several ballistic missiles in the northern Red Sea off the coast of Yanbu, stepping up its maritime campaign against Riyadh's oil exports. Military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement on X that the missiles hit the vessel "accurately," framing the attack as part of the group's "blockade for blockade" strategy.

Expanding Blockade

Saree said the attack brought to eight the number of Saudi tankers targeted since the group imposed its maritime blockade on July 22. He claimed that 29 Saudi vessels had been prevented from transiting the Red Sea and Arabian Sea or forced to turn back during the campaign.

Rerouted Shipping

The spokesperson noted that Saudi Arabia had redirected its oil tankers to the northern Red Sea after the group succeeded in blocking the Bab al-Mandab Strait. He vowed that the group would continue and intensify attacks on Saudi tankers to block maritime access routes and prevent their passage, "regardless of the consequences."

Saudi Response

There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on the Houthi claims. The latest strike marks the eighth such attack since the group announced its blockade last month, threatening one of the kingdom's primary oil export routes.