Yemen’s Houthi movement says it has attacked a Saudi-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea, off the coast of the Saudi port city of Yanbu. The group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said the vessel was targeted with a ballistic missile.
A British maritime security agency reported that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile about 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu, causing a fire on the vessel’s main deck. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the vessel was the Amzan. They also said they carried out other operations against Saudi targets. However, details about the extent of the damage remain unclear.
The incident is part of a broader escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, with the group having recently targeted Saudi-linked shipping and energy infrastructure. The attacks are also increasing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea, a major international trade route.
Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed all of the Houthi claims, so some details of the incident remain unverified.