ALBAWABA- Yemen’s Houthi group on Monday claimed responsibility for a ballistic-missile strike on the Saudi-flagged oil tanker Amzan in the Red Sea off Yanbu, escalating its campaign against Saudi-linked shipping and threatening a key route for the kingdom’s oil exports.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the tanker was hit directly, causing a fire and prompting nearby vessels to leave the area. The group said the attack was part of its declared blockade of Saudi-linked maritime traffic and its policy of “blockade for blockade.”
Saudi shipping company Bahri confirmed that the Amzan was involved in a security incident in the Red Sea but did not attribute responsibility for the attack. It said all crew members were safe and that no injuries had been reported. Earlier, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a tanker had been struck by an unidentified projectile about 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu, causing a fire on its main deck. No environmental impact was reported.
The Houthis also claimed two separate attacks against Saudi-backed forces inside Yemen. According to their statement, ballistic missiles and drones targeted a large military convoy in the Al-Abr and Al-Wadi'ah areas, allegedly destroying more than 10 trucks carrying weapons and military equipment.
A second operation targeted Saudi-aligned forces in Al-Kanais, with the Houthis claiming casualties among commanders and officers and the destruction of weapons depots. Local sources confirmed the strikes and reported that vehicles belonging to civilians were burned as a result of the Houthi attack on the Wadi’ah area.
The latest escalation comes amid a broader deterioration in Yemen’s fragile security environment. The conflict had remained largely frozen since the 2022 UN-brokered truce, but tensions have intensified in recent weeks amid renewed Saudi-Houthi confrontation and stalled Omani-mediated efforts to reach a political settlement.
The escalation also coincides with the wider US-Iran confrontation and disruptions to regional shipping. Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on Red Sea routes such as Yanbu to move oil while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted.
