Houthis Strike Saudi Tanker in Red Sea After Months-Long Hiatus
The Houthi rebel group in Yemen has claimed responsibility for attacking a Saudi tanker in the Red Sea. The tanker, NCC Wafa, is controlled by Bahri and was reportedly struck while transiting the region. According to Yahya Saree, the spokesperson for the Houthi faction, the group 'successfully targeted the Saudi oil tanker' with ballistic missiles.
The attack marks a resumption of the Houthi campaign against commercial shipping, which had been on hiatus for several months. The group imposed a blockade on Saudi ports last month and has since targeted vessels that breached it, including the India-flagged multipurpose vessel Faize Noore Oliya, which was hit in the Red Sea on August 4.
The extent of damage to NCC Wafa is currently unknown, as Lloyd's List has been unable to verify whether the tanker was struck by projectiles. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the Houthi rebels and commercial shipping interests in the region.