Houthis attack Saudi tankers in Red Sea, claim blockade enforcement

The Yemeni Houthi militia claims it has attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea, asserting this action enforces a recently declared maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. The Iran-aligned militia announced that the vessels, identified as Encelia and Layla, were targeted with missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. According to the Houthis, the ships violated the blockade, and fires broke out on both vessels, forcing approximately ten other ships to turn back. The Saudi state news agency confirmed that the bow of the Encelia caught fire following an attack in the Red Sea. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) corroborated these details, citing the ship's captain, and reported no injuries. The incident took place roughly 130 kilometers southwest of the Saudi coastal town of Al-Shukaik. This development follows the Houthis' announcement on Monday of a "shipping ban" for Saudi Arabia, which came shortly after a new armed confrontation between the militia and the neighboring kingdom. The Houthis have been engaged in a conflict with the internationally recognized Yemeni government for over a decade, with a Saudi-led military coalition intervening in 2015. A ceasefire had been in place in recent years.

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targeted military operation against two Saudi Arabian oil tankers