Houthis Target Eighth Saudi Oil Tanker Amid Escalating Maritime Blockade
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have attacked another Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, claiming they successfully targeted it with ballistic missiles. The attack is part of their declared maritime blockade on the kingdom. This is the eighth Saudi oil tanker targeted since the start of the blockade on July 22.
The Houthis say they will escalate attacks in the northern Red Sea because Saudi Arabia has been diverting its oil tankers there from the south in response to their blockade. This move threatens top oil exporter Saudi Arabia's ability to get its supplies to the world, following Iran's parallel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, stated that 'we will now escalate in targeting Saudi oil tankers in the northern Red Sea to close all access points and prevent their passage.'