Houthis say they struck two Saudi oil tankers violating naval blockade, forced other ships to turn back

The Houthi movement in Yemen claimed responsibility for attacking two Saudi oil tankers that attempted to violate the Houthi-imposed naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, according to a statement. The group also said it forced numerous other vessels to turn back. The claim has not been independently verified.

The Houthi movement in Yemen early Thursday issued a statement claiming responsibility for attacking two Saudi oil tankers that violated the Houthi-imposed naval blockade, and said it forced "numerous other ships" to turn back, according to the statement. The new claim adds the blockade justification and the forced-ships element, which were not included in the previous Houthi statement reported by The Zioneer at 00:41 Jerusalem, which only claimed the attack on the tankers.

The thread of reports began at 00:15 Jerusalem, when The Zioneer first reported unverified claims of a Houthi missile strike on a Saudi oil tanker. Within minutes, multiple updates followed: the tanker was identified as Saudi carrying 500,000 barrels of oil (v2), reports of the tanker on fire (v3), Houthi responsibility for attacking two tankers ENCELA and LAYLIA (v4, v7), a spokesman linking the attack to the naval blockade (v5), and UKMTO confirming a tanker hit by a projectile and on fire (v6). Some early versions also claimed the Houthis forced ten other vessels to turn back (v8). However, the later statement at 00:41 omitted those details, focusing only on the combined attack. The new statement now reasserts the blockade enforcement and the forced-ships claim.

The Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia this week, and as The Zioneer reported on July 22, five oil tankers rerouted in the Red Sea after the Houthi warning. The group has carried out multiple attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in recent months.

Independent verification of the latest Houthi claims is still pending. No confirmation from Saudi authorities or international maritime security sources has been reported.

11 developments

1. 2 hours ago · 00:58 · 23 JulLatest

   Tanker LAYLA has not transmitted AIS signals for nearly six days.

2. 00:56 · 23 Jul

   Technical analysis shows tanker deceleration consistent with a strike.

3. 00:55 · 23 Jul

   Houthis named targeted tankers ENCELA and LAYLA, threatened operations inside Saudi Arabia.

• Developing20:16 · 10 JunUS aerial tankers switch transponders back on above Saudi Arabia
• Developing17:42 · 13 JunSanction-busting oil tanker evades US Navy blockade by disabling AIS off Iran
• Strong14:49 · 1 JulOil tanker reports small boat approaching in Gulf of Aden; no damage or injuries
• Strong1 hour ago · 01:50 · 23 JulFootage shows Saudi oil tanker engulfed in flames after reported Houthi missile strike near Yemen

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