Houthi Missile Strike Targets Saudi Oil Tanker in Red Sea

Houthi forces recently declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia’s vessels in the Red Sea.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants have launched ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, reportedly striking the vessel in defiance of a broader maritime blockade imposed on the kingdom.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated on X that the group executed a military operation targeting the Saudi oil tanker NCC GHAZAL, alleging it had violated the maritime navigation ban. The spokesperson added that multiple ballistic missiles were deployed, compelling the vessel to withdraw.

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a maritime security monitor, confirmed that a tanker reported an explosion while transiting the Red Sea, stating that the crew was safe and no environmental damage was reported.

Since seizing the capital Sanaa in 2014, Houthi forces have been engaged in conflict with the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which Riyadh supports, for over a decade.

On July 20, the Houthis announced their maritime blockade, accusing Saudi authorities of waging an unjust and oppressive siege on Yemen for nearly 12 years, alleging that the kingdom had been plundering their resources and imposing a comprehensive blockade.

The group further affirmed the right of their people to respond to the blockade with a reciprocal blockade.

Subsequent Attack on Saudi Vessels

In a separate incident, Houthi forces claimed responsibility for an attack on two Saudi oil tankers traveling through the Red Sea last week.

“We targeted two Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and the Layla, for violating the blockade decision issued by our armed forces,” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated on July 22.

Saudi Arabia’s Press Agency reported that the Encelia had been damaged, citing an official from the Transport General Authority who confirmed that all crew members were safe.

The Bab al-Mandeb strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, ranks among the world’s most critical shipping routes, vital for oil exports.

Situated between Yemen to the northeast and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa to the southwest, the strait narrows to just 29 kilometers (18 miles) at its tightest point, restricting traffic to two channels used by vessels traveling to and from the Suez Canal.

In 2024, roughly 4.1 billion barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum traversed the strait, representing approximately 5 percent of global maritime oil transit.

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