The Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) claimed on Wednesday evening that it attacked a Saudi oil vessel in the Gulf of Aden with ballistic missiles. The claim has not been independently verified, and no damage or casualties have been reported.
The Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) claimed on Wednesday evening that it launched ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The claim, reported by the group's official channels, has not been independently verified by Israeli, Saudi, or international sources. No details on the vessel's identity, extent of damage, or casualties have been reported. This evening's claim follows a series of Houthi statements earlier Wednesday (10:03 Jerusalem) asserting strikes on Saudi oil tankers in the northern Red Sea off the coast of Yanbu. In those morning claims, the Houthis identified the targeted tankers as 'Wafaa' and 'Daisy,' and asserted direct hits. The group also claimed that eight Saudi oil tankers have been hit since July 22 and that 29 additional vessels were forced to change course or withdraw. All of these claims remain unverified, with no independent confirmation from Saudi or maritime authorities.
Earlier today (Wed 10:03 Jerusalem), the Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group struck the tanker 'Wafaa' with several ballistic missiles off Yanbu. Minutes later, the group officially claimed responsibility for an attack on a Saudi oil tanker, and subsequently identified the tanker 'Daisy' as a target. The thread of claims has not been corroborated by any independent source, and Saudi authorities have not commented. Over the past weeks, similar unverified claims were reported: on July 28, the Houthis claimed a ballistic missile attack on a Saudi vessel, and on July 23, reports emerged of attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Gulf of Aden, as The Zioneer reported at the time.
The Houthis, an Iranian proxy, have escalated their maritime campaign since late 2023, targeting vessels linked to Israel, the US, the UK, and Saudi Arabia. As The Zioneer has reported, the group has integrated into the Iranian-led 'unity of arenas' strategy, and recent weeks have seen a tightening of the IRGC-Houthi nexus, including reports of direct Iranian flights to Sana'a. The Houthis ended their ceasefire with Saudi Arabia and have launched attacks from Iraqi territory, while a 14-nation maritime coalition has been formed to secure the Red Sea.
What remains open: The latest claim, like all previous ones, has not been independently verified. No details on the vessel's identity, damage, or casualties have been reported. Saudi authorities have not commented. The Houthi assertion that eight tankers have been hit since July 22 and 29 diverted remains unconfirmed by any independent source.
6 developments
Source and signal
- Open-source intake