Image for representation purposes only Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said on Tuesday it fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, claiming the vessel violated a recently announced maritime blockade on Saudi-linked shipping. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group targeted the NCC GHAZAL after it ignored repeated warnings and breached a maritime navigation ban. In a post on X, Saree said several ballistic missiles were used in the operation and claimed the tanker was forced to turn back. There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities or the vessel’s operator. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the master of a tanker reported hearing an explosion while transiting the southern Red Sea. UKMTO said the vessel and its crew were safe and that no environmental damage had been reported. The attack claim comes just over a week after the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. On July 20, the group said it would ban Saudi-linked shipping in response to what it described as an “unjust and oppressive siege” imposed on Yemen for nearly 12 years. The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of imposing a comprehensive blockade and plundering Yemen’s resources, saying they had the right to respond with a blockade of their own. Saudi Arabia has denied those allegations. The Houthis have since claimed attacks on several Saudi oil tankers. Last week, Saree said the group targeted the Saudi oil tankers Encelia and Layla, accusing them of violating the blockade. He said the vessels were attacked with ballistic missiles and drones and claimed the strikes caused fires on board. The Saudi Press Agency later reported that Encelia had been hit, citing an official from Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority, who said all crew members were safe. The reported attack on NCC GHAZAL would be at least the fourth oil tanker targeted since the Houthis announced

Saudi Arabia Yemen Houthi GHAZAL UKMTO Encelia Disclaimer Yahya Saree Transport General Authority Strait of Hormuz Mandeb Strait Gulf of Aden Indian Ocean Suez Canal Separately