Houthis claim missile strikes on two Saudi tankers

Yemen's Houthi forces claimed on Wednesday that they launched ballistic missile attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, one off the Red Sea port of Yanbu and another in the Gulf of Aden, while a separate drone strike on a Saudi border airport earlier this week has forced an indefinite suspension of operations there. The escalation threatens to further disrupt global energy supplies already strained by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Tanker Strikes and Expanding Blockade

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group targeted the Saudi oil tanker Wafa in the northern Red Sea near Yanbu with multiple ballistic missiles, claiming a direct hit. Hours later, Saree announced a second strike on the tanker Daisy in the Gulf of Aden. The attacks brought the total number of Saudi tankers targeted to nine since the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi shipping on July 22.nytimes+2

Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the claims. The Houthis warned they would expand operations into the northern Red Sea after Saudi Arabia began rerouting tankers away from the Bab al-Mandab Strait. "Our forces confirm that their operations will continue and escalate in targeting Saudi oil tankers in the northern Red Sea to close all access points," Saree said.ynetnews+1

According to data from maritime tracker Kpler cited by Gulf News, all of Saudi Arabia's seaborne crude exports departed from the port of Yanbu during April and May, with Yanbu accounting for 92 percent in June — a consequence of Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz forcing Saudi oil westward.gulfnews

Airport Radar Disabled, Airstrikes on Sanaa

On Tuesday, the Houthis struck Najran Airport near the Saudi-Yemeni border with a domestically produced kamikaze drone, damaging its primary radar system. According to an AFP report cited by the Straits Times, operations at the airport were "suspended indefinitely," with the airport's website listing upcoming flights as "unknown". Reuters confirmed the Houthis claimed the strike on their Telegram channel.tasnimnews+2

Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes on Sanaa early Wednesday, with multiple explosions reported across the Yemeni capital. The Saudi-led coalition has previously said it targets "legitimate military targets" used to threaten commercial shipping.parstoday+1

Shipping Disruption Deepens

Maritime intelligence firm Windward reported that Saudi-linked vessel traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait has fallen to record lows, with the average daily number of transiting vessels dropping from roughly 30 to 18 — a 22 percent decline — while oil tanker traffic fell 39 percent. The Houthis also claimed to have forced 29 Saudi tankers to reverse course in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea.islamtimes+2

On Tuesday, an Indian-flagged cargo vessel sank off the Yemeni coast after being struck by a projectile, though all 14 crew members were rescued. Global oil prices rose roughly 1 percent on Wednesday to around $80 per barrel.shafaq+1