Yemen's Houthis claim attack on two Saudi ships; US and Saudi Arabia sign nuclear deal

The Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has claimed responsibility for attacking two Saudi Arabian ships, which they allege violated a maritime blockade. The group identified the vessels as the "Encella" and "Laylia."

This claim comes after the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident 70 nautical miles off the coast of Al Shuquaiq, Saudi Arabia. A tanker captain reported their vessel was hit by an unknown projectile, causing a fire onboard. UKMTO stated there were no reports of injuries or environmental consequences, but it remains unclear if this refers to the same incident described by the Houthis. Saudi Arabia has not yet officially commented on the Houthi claims.

In parallel, the United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a significant agreement for nuclear cooperation and a bilateral security pact. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the deal, which aims to establish a legal framework for a multi-billion dollar, decades-long partnership. The agreement is intended to advance economic and strategic priorities, including preventing nuclear proliferation, and will now undergo review by Congress.