CAIRO — Yemen’s Houthi movement said on Thursday it had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, escalating tensions around a major shipping route after the Iran-aligned group announced a naval blockade targeting vessels linked to Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis identified the vessels as the Encelia and Layla and said they had been targeted with ballistic and cruise missiles and drones. The group said the ships had violated restrictions it had imposed on shipping to Saudi ports. The claims could not be independently verified.
Saudi state news agency SPA later reported that the Saudi-owned Encelia had been struck while sailing in the Red Sea, citing an official source at the General Transport Authority. The source said a fire broke out at the front of the vessel but that all crew members were safe. Authorities had taken measures to secure the ship and its crew and protect the marine environment, the report said.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency had earlier reported an incident involving a tanker about 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia. According to the agency, the vessel's master reported that it had been hit by an unknown projectile, causing a fire that the crew was fighting. No casualties or environmental impact were reported, and authorities were investigating.
The Houthi claims came days after the movement said it was imposing a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia. The group has previously attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea, although its latest action marks a renewed threat to vessels operating near Saudi ports.
The Houthis control territory in western Yemen near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and a key route for international trade and energy shipments. Any sustained disruption could affect shipping through the wider region, although the immediate impact of the reported attacks remained unclear.
Saudi authorities have not publicly confirmed that the Layla was attacked, and there was no independent confirmation of damage to that vessel. The status of both ships and the circumstances surrounding the reported incidents remained under investigation on Thursday.
