SANAA: Yemen’s Houthi movement, Ansar Allah, has claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, alleging that the vessels violated a maritime blockade imposed by the group.
In a statement, Ansar Allah said the targeted tankers had breached its declared naval blockade, prompting the attacks.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), a Saudi-owned vessel came under attack while sailing in the Red Sea. The strike caused a fire to break out in the forward section of the ship.
Saudi authorities said all crew members were safe, and no casualties were reported.
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had reported a fire aboard a vessel approximately 70 nautical miles off the Saudi coast near Al Shaqiq.
According to the ship’s captain, the blaze was caused by a missile strike.
Officials said there were no reported fatalities, injuries, or environmental impacts resulting from the incident.
The attacks come days after the Houthi movement announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia.
At the time, an Ansar Allah spokesperson said the blockade was being imposed in response to what the group described as the Saudi-led blockade on Yemen, particularly the continued closure of Sanaa International Airport.
The spokesperson stated that the closure of the airport was “unacceptable” and warned that restrictions imposed on Yemen would be met with reciprocal measures at sea.
The reported attack marks a further escalation of tensions in the Red Sea, a critical international shipping route, amid ongoing regional instability.
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