Houthis Claim Attacks on Two Saudi Oil Tankers; Riyadh Has Not Confirmed
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Yemen’s Houthis say they carried out two missile attacks against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while Saudi Arabia had not confirmed either incident or reported any damage at the time of publication.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the first attack targeted an oil tanker off the Saudi Red Sea port city of Yanbu and that a second tanker was targeted in the Gulf of Aden. He did not identify the vessels, specify when the alleged attacks occurred or provide verifiable information about damage.
Saudi authorities and independent maritime organizations had not reported missile interceptions or distress calls connected to the two claims. The announcement therefore remains a Houthi allegation rather than an independently confirmed event.
The claims are significant because Yanbu is a major outlet for Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea, particularly as disruptions continue to affect tanker movements near the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
The Houthis said in July that they had imposed what they described as a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in response to an alleged Saudi siege of Yemen. Riyadh has denied that allegation.
The announcement comes amid growing risks to vessels and energy infrastructure across the region, with previous attacks forcing shipping companies to alter routes and contributing to higher insurance and transport costs.
The effect of the alleged attacks cannot be established without Saudi, vessel or independent maritime confirmation. Any headline must therefore continue to attribute the claim directly to the Houthis.
