Houthis claim attack on two Saudi oil tankers

Attacks on Saudi-flagged ships were reported on Monday, a development that follows the Houthi movement’s declaration of a naval embargo against Saudi vessels earlier this week. The Red Sea‑based rebels claimed responsibility for the incidents, stating that the strikes were a direct response to what they described as “aggressive” actions by the Saudi-led coalition in the region. Saudi authorities confirmed that two commercial vessels experienced minor damage but reported no casualties, and they reiterated that maritime traffic in the Red Sea remains open and secure.

The embargo, announced by Houthi officials on Thursday, warned that any vessel perceived to be supporting the Saudi coalition would be targeted, marking an escalation in the group’s maritime campaign that began in 2016. International observers noted that the timing coincides with heightened diplomatic efforts to resolve the broader Yemen conflict, and the United Nations called for restraint from all parties to safeguard commercial shipping. The recent attacks underscore the fragile security environment in the Red Sea and raise concerns about potential disruptions to global trade routes if the naval threat persists.