Unverified footage circulating shows a Saudi oil tanker engulfed in flames after what is reported as a Houthi missile strike near Yemen. The attack follows the Houthis' earlier claim this evening, as reported by The Zioneer at 01:31 Jerusalem, that it struck two Saudi oil tankers near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, with one reported on fire. The extent of damage and any casualties remain unconfirmed.
New unverified footage circulating on social media appears to show a Saudi oil tanker engulfed in flames, aligning with the Houthi movement's claim early Thursday that it had struck two Saudi oil tankers near the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The footage, which emerged shortly after The Zioneer reported the Houthi claim at 00:39 Jerusalem, indicates that at least one tanker was struck and is burning.
The incident follows a sequence of reports published by The Zioneer at 00:39 Jerusalem. Initially, AIS tracking data showed the Saudi tanker ENCELIA slowing near the strait, coinciding with a Houthi announcement of an upcoming military statement. Shortly after, regional reports identified the burning tanker as the Saudi royal tanker Ansilia, carrying 110,000 metric tons of crude oil. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) then confirmed a Houthi attack on a Saudi oil tanker 70 nautical miles off Al-Shuwaik. The Houthis subsequently claimed responsibility for striking two tankers, with one on fire. The reports evolved from unverified tracking data to confirmed attack details.
The Houthis have escalated their maritime campaign against Saudi-linked vessels in recent weeks. On Wednesday, The Zioneer reported that five oil tankers rerouted in the Red Sea after the Houthis warned vessels against docking at Saudi ports, declaring a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. The current incident appears to be the first direct strike on a Saudi oil tanker in this latest wave.
The identity of the tanker in the footage, the extent of the damage, and any casualties remain unconfirmed.
5 developments
- DevelopingOil tanker attacked by small boats off Yemen's Aden coast, report says
- DevelopingHouthi fast attack boats strike oil tanker near the Gulf of Aden
- DevelopingOil tanker attacked near Yemen's northern border, report says
- DevelopingOil product tanker attacked off Yemen's Ash Shihr — UKMTO reports
Source and signal
- Internal intake