Sana'a: Yemen's Houthi group has claimed responsibility for a military operation that targeted two Saudi oil tankers using ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the operation was directed at the Saudi oil tankers Encelia and Layla, accusing them of violating the group's maritime blockade and asserting that the strikes achieved direct hits.

According to TRTworld.com, Saree also noted that the operation compelled nearly 10 vessels to retreat. He emphasized that the group's armed forces would persist with maritime operations against Saudi Arabia, maintaining their "blockade-for-blockade" strategy. Furthermore, Saree warned that any attack on Yemen would trigger significant military operations deep within Saudi territory.

Earlier, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported a fire on a tanker after it was hit by a projectile approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shaqiq, Saudi Arabia. The agency mentioned that authorities were conducting investigations into the incident.

Later, Saudi Arabia's Transport General Authority (TGA), as reported by the official SPA news agency, confirmed that the Encelia had been targeted while navigating the Red Sea, resulting in a fire at the vessel's bow. An official source from the authority assured that all crew members were safe and that necessary measures had been implemented to secure the vessel, its crew, and the marine environment.

The source further characterized the attack as a breach of international laws and conventions that ensure the safety of commercial vessels and their crews. On Monday, the Houthis declared a ban on maritime navigation to Saudi Arabia, leading the Saudi-led coalition to promise a "firm and forceful" response and initiate measures to safeguard vessels traversing the Bab al-Mandab Strait.