Houthis Claim Responsibility for Red Sea Oil Tanker Strike

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for striking a Saudi-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea, causing a fire and prompting other ships to flee. The attack occurred about 63 nautical miles west of the Saudi port city of Yanbu, hundreds of kilometers north of Yemen.

The Houthis said the strike was accurate and direct, as part of their decision to prohibit maritime navigation by what they called the 'Saudi enemy.' This incident follows the group's declaration of a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia last month and their targeting of Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea.