DID Press: Saudi Arabia has confirmed that one of its oil tankers came under attack in the Red Sea, after Yemen’s Ansarallah (Houthis) claimed responsibility for strikes targeting two Saudi vessels amid escalating regional tensions.
In a statement issued early Thursday, Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for Ansarallah, said the group had carried out a “special naval operation” against the Saudi tankers Ancilia and Laila, alleging they had violated the group’s ban on maritime traffic in the Red Sea.
According to the statement, the attack involved ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, with Ansarallah claiming the strikes caused fires aboard both vessels. The group also said nearly 10 commercial ships reversed course following the operation.
Ansarallah said it would continue maritime operations against Saudi-linked shipping under what it described as the “blockade for blockade” strategy, warning that any further military action against Yemen would be met with expanded strikes inside Saudi territory.
Hours later, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) confirmed that the Saudi tanker Ancilia had been attacked while transiting the Red Sea and had caught fire. The agency did not immediately provide details on casualties, the extent of the damage, or responsibility for the incident.
Meanwhile, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that at least nine vessels abandoned plans to transit the Bab el-Mandeb Strait following the announced maritime blockade, including oil tankers departing from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port.