Yemen’s Houthis Claim Ballistic Missile Strike on Saudi Tanker in Red Sea

Saudi-linked vessels in the Red Sea have been targeted several times by the Houthis in the past month. The Houthis rebel group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a Saudi oil tanker off the port city of Yanbu in the Red Sea.

The Yemeni group issued a statement on Monday detailing its strike on the “Amzan,” marking the latest assault on Saudi assets by the Houthis and heightening fears that regional tensions could escalate. A Houthi military spokesperson stated that a vessel belonging to Saudi national shipping company Bahri “was targeted off the coast of Yanbu in Saudi Arabia with a ballistic missile.”

Bahri later released a statement confirming that the “Amzan” was involved in a maritime incident in the Red Sea. The company noted it remained in contact with the vessel and was closely coordinating with relevant authorities, adding that all crew members were safe and no injuries had been reported. “The safety of our people, the protection of the maritime environment, and the safe management of the vessel remain our highest priorities,” the statement read.

There has been no confirmation from Saudi officials, and an Al Jazeera request for comment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received no response. In recent weeks, the Houthis killed seven people in a Yemeni port, targeted an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia, and killed at least six people with 10 others wounded in a strike on a cargo vessel in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Earlier in the day, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a tanker had been struck by an unknown projectile about 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu.

The Houthis are seeking to limit Saudi energy exports via the Red Sea. Yanbu serves as Saudi Arabia's main Red Sea oil port, handling millions of barrels daily, and has become a primary route for tankers avoiding the Strait of Hormuz. However, shipping near Yanbu has faced disruptions since the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi-linked vessels last month. The strike was described by the Houthis as part of the implementation of their decision to ban maritime navigation by the Saudi enemy, resulting in a fire breaking out aboard the vessel and causing other nearby ships to flee the target area.