Yemen’s Houthi militia attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers, the Iranian-aligned group said on Thursday, with a Saudi news agency later confirming one of the vessels was ablaze in the Red Sea.
Details of the attacks
The Houthis said they attacked two tankers, the Encelia and Layla, saying the vessels had violated a naval blockade imposed by the group on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. The Houthis said they targeted the tankers with a number of ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones.
Saudi Arabian news outlet SPA said an attack caused a fire on the bow of the Encelia but all crew members were safe. It did not say who targeted the vessel.
A maritime security source said earlier on Thursday that the Encelia had transmitted a distress call via VHF radio, reporting it had been struck by a missile while operating at the outer port limits of Saudi Arabia’s Jizan, in the Red Sea, and was on fire.
Broader context
The threat of a new front opening up in the US-Iran war came as the US military launched its 12th successive night of strikes, which have now widened to western and central Iran.
Before the Red Sea flare-up, Trump had vowed to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant every time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, a claim Iran said it would respond to.
US attacks on Thursday lasted five hours and struck at Iranian military targets including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defence assets.
Impact on shipping and oil
In the statement announcing their attack on the two tankers, the Houthis claimed they had forced about 10 ships to retreat and return. Five tankers changed course in the Red Sea on Wednesday, with two signalling the Suez canal as their new destination after the Houthis warned ships to avoid Saudi ports, ship-tracking data showed.
Brent crude oil on Wednesday jumped more than 3% to move back up above $95.
