Houthis Strike Saudi Oil Tanker in Red Sea, Disrupting Global Shipping

The Houthi group has claimed responsibility for striking a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea with a ballistic missile, causing a fire to break out aboard the vessel. The attack took place off the coast of Yanbu, hundreds of kilometers north of Yemen.

The Houthis said their forces hit the tanker as part of a maritime blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which carries around 12% of global maritime trade. This is the latest escalation in hostilities between the Houthi group and Saudi Arabia, with both sides trading attacks since July.

The attack on the tanker has sparked concerns about the safety of shipping routes through the Red Sea, a critical artery for global oil exports. The Houthis have been targeting Saudi tankers in recent weeks, causing a significant disruption to maritime trade in the region.