Houthi militant group targets Saudi Arabian supertanker in Red Sea

Yemen’s Houthi militant group claimed responsibility for launching ballistic missile strikes against the Saudi oil tanker Wafa near Yanbu and another tanker named Daisy in the Gulf of Aden on August 5. The attacks mark the latest escalation in what the Iran-aligned group has framed as a full naval blockade of Saudi maritime operations, declared on July 20. Brent crude prices responded almost immediately, rising approximately 1% to around $80 per barrel. A blockade by another name Spokesman Yahya Saree announced the strikes as part of the group’s stated “siege for a siege” doctrine, positioning the attacks as retaliation for Saudi Arabia’s broader maritime operations in the region. Earlier in July, the group claimed missile strikes on three other tankers: the Encelia, the Layla, and the NCC Ghazal. None of those incidents resulted in confirmed major spills or casualties, though independent verification of the Houthis’ claims has remained limited across all attacks. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported related incidents involving explosions and fires near tankers in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. In monitored cases, crews have been reported safe. Some Saudi-linked ves...