HOUTHIS CLAIM ATTACK ON TWO SAUDI OIL TANKERS IN RED SEA

Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility for attacking two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Wednesday. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group targeted the vessels named Encelia and Layla, stating they had violated a blockade imposed by the armed forces. Saree said the attack used ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, and resulted in fires on the ships. Saudi Arabia's state media confirmed that the Encelia was struck, with the bow catching fire, and reported that all crew members aboard were safe. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said it received reports of a tanker being struck by an unknown projectile that caused a fire the crew were fighting.

The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, imposed the maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia on 20 July. This followed violence in Yemen after the Yemeni government bombed Houthi-controlled Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. According to Saree, the Houthi attacks forced nearly ten ships to abandon their routes and turn back. Saudi Arabia's Press Agency stated that the attacks violated international laws and conventions guaranteeing the safety of commercial vessels and their crews, though it provided no details on the claimed Layla attack. The Houthis have fought the Yemeni government and a Saudi-led coalition supporting it for more than a decade.

The incidents mark an escalation in Red Sea shipping disruptions linked to the conflict. The attacks highlight the vulnerability of commercial maritime traffic to Houthi operations in the region. The group's imposition of a blockade and subsequent attacks represent a significant development in the ongoing Yemeni conflict and its effects on international shipping.