The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen announced they targeted a Saudi-owned oil tanker in the Red Sea. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on X that the tanker, named 'NCC GHAZAL', was attacked with ballistic missiles.
Yahya Saree claimed the tanker violated the naval ban the Houthis had imposed on Saudi Arabia and ignored warnings. He asserted the vessel was hit by multiple ballistic missiles and forced to retreat and return in the direction it came from after the attack.
Naval ban and previous attacks
The Houthis had announced a maritime ban on Saudi Arabia on July 20. Accusing the Riyadh administration of imposing a blockade on areas under its control in Yemen, the group said it would strike any ships violating this restriction.
The Iran-backed group also claimed that on the evening of July 22, it struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles and drones, causing fires on the vessels.