The Houthi movement in Yemen says it attacked a Saudi oil tanker near the Red Sea port of Yanbu, according to a statement on its media channels. The claim is not yet independently verified.
The Houthi movement in Yemen claimed Wednesday morning that it struck the Saudi oil tanker 'Wafaa' in the northern Red Sea off the coast of Yanbu with several ballistic missiles, asserting a direct hit. The claim was made by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, who also said that eight Saudi oil tankers have been hit since July 22 and that 29 additional vessels were forced to change course or withdraw. The group vowed to continue and intensify attacks on Saudi ships in the northern Red Sea.
At 10:03 Jerusalem, the Houthis initially claimed responsibility for the attack without identifying the vessel. Within minutes, the spokesman provided the vessel's name and the broader statistics, as The Zioneer reported. The escalation follows the Houthis' declaration of an end to their ceasefire with Saudi Arabia in late July. Earlier attacks included the reported targeting of two tankers in the Gulf of Aden on July 23 and a strike on the Abqaiq processing plant on July 27, as The Zioneer reported at the time.
The Houthis have integrated their naval campaign into the broader Iranian-backed regional offensive, with coordination extending to Iraqi Shia militias and the IRGC, as The Zioneer reported on July 30. The group has repeatedly threatened to disrupt Red Sea shipping and target Saudi energy infrastructure.
The claim remains unverified. Saudi authorities have not commented, and no independent reports of damage or casualties have emerged. The extent of the impact on the 'Wafaa' and the status of the vessel are unknown.
6 developments
- StrongHouthis vow to continue naval campaign, target Saudi oil tankers in northern Red Sea
- DevelopingHouthi fast attack boats strike oil tanker near the Gulf of Aden
- StrongHouthi spokesman: Drone strike targeted Saudi oil facilities from east to Yanbu
- DevelopingHouthis reportedly attacked two Saudi oil tankers in Gulf of Aden, Israel Hayom says
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