Houthis Target Saudi Oil Tanker in Red Sea Blockade Escalation

Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for an attack on a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, as part of their ongoing naval blockade strategy. According to Yahya Saree, military spokesman for the Yemeni rebel movement 'Ansar Allah', the rebels used ballistic missiles to strike the Wafa tanker in the northern part of the Red Sea.

The attack is said to have been precise and marks one of eight Saudi tankers targeted by the Houthis since they declared a naval blockade on July 22. Saree also claimed that 29 tankers were forced to change course in the waters of the Red and Arabian seas, as Saudi Arabia redirects its vessels to avoid the rebels' blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The Houthis have threatened to expand their operations in the northern part of the waters to close all routes for Saudi vessels, in what they term a 'blockade for blockade' strategy. The move is likely to escalate tensions between the warring parties and potentially disrupt global oil supplies.