Houthis Say They Target Saudi Oil Tanker in Red Sea Missile Strike.

Yemen's Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for a missile attack targeting a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, marking another escalation after the group announced a naval blockade against Saudi vessels earlier this month.

In a statement shared by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, the group said it launched several ballistic missiles at the Saudi oil tanker NCC Ghazal, accusing the vessel of violating its maritime blockade. The Houthis claimed the attack forced the tanker to retreat.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that a commercial tanker reported an explosion while sailing through the Red Sea. However, the agency said all crew members were safe, and no pollution or environmental damage had been reported.

The Houthis, who have controlled Yemen's capital, Sanaa, since 2014, have been fighting the Saudi-backed Yemeni government for more than a decade. On July 20, the group declared a naval blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, accusing Riyadh of maintaining a prolonged blockade on Yemen and exploiting the country's resources.

This is the second attack on Saudi oil tankers claimed by the Houthis within a week. The group previously said it had targeted the Encelia and Layla tankers for allegedly breaching the blockade.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, remains one of the world's most strategic maritime routes. Millions of barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products pass through the narrow waterway each day, making it a vital corridor for global energy supplies.

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