Yemen's Houthi group said Wednesday it had targeted a Saudi oil tanker with a ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden, several hours after claiming a separate missile attack on another Saudi tanker in the northern Red Sea.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the tanker, identified as "Daisy," was hit by a ballistic missile and "forced to turn back."
Sarea said the attack was part of the group's declared maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia under a "blockade-for-blockade" policy.
He said Houthi forces are closely monitoring Saudi oil tankers and will block their passage through the southern and northern Red Sea until what they call a blockade on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen is lifted.
The latest claims come amid escalating tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. On July 20, the Houthis announced a maritime ban on Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea, citing an alleged Saudi blockade on Houthi-held areas.
Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.
Houthis claim missile attacks on Saudi oil tankers in Gulf of Aden
