Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement said it struck two Saudi oil tankers, ENCELA and LAYLIA, in the Red Sea, military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Wednesday. Saree said the strikes used ballistic and cruise missiles and drones and caused fires aboard both vessels. He added the group had forced nearly ten ships to abandon their routes and turn back. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre reported a tanker master saying his ship was hit by an unknown projectile and was battling a fire; Saudi Arabia has not commented on the Houthi claims. The Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia on July 20, saying it was retaliation for what they called a siege and recent attacks on Sanaa airport. The incident threatens Saudi efforts to route oil shipments through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint and will likely draw continued monitoring from maritime authorities and international naval forces.
