Published July 28th, 2026 - 05:57 GMT
Highlights
The reported attack is the latest in a series of Houthi operations targeting Saudi maritime and energy infrastructure since the group announced a naval blockade on Saudi shipping on July 20.
ALBAWABA- Yemen's Houthis claimed on Tuesday that they launched a ballistic missile attack on a Saudi vessel in the Red Sea, saying the ship had violated their declared naval blockade despite repeated warnings.In a post on X, Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the group's forces targeted the Saudi oil tanker **NCC GHAZAL** with several ballistic missiles after it allegedly violated the maritime navigation ban imposed on Saudi shipping and ignored repeated warnings. Saree claimed the vessel was forced to turn back and retreat following the attack.According to Reuters, Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the missile strike targeted a Saudi-linked vessel that ignored the group's restrictions on maritime traffic. He claimed the attack forced the ship to retreat.نفذت القوات المسلحة اليمنية عملية عسكرية استهدفت سفينة(NCC GHAZAL) النفطية السعودية لخرقها قرار حظر الملاحة البحرية المفروض على العدو السعودي ورفضها النداءات التحذيرية وذلك بعدد من الصواريخ الباليستية وتم إجبارها على التراجع والعودة بفضل الله.— العميد يحيى سريع (@Yahya_Saree) July 28, 2026 The reported attack is the latest in a series of Houthi operations targeting Saudi maritime and energy infrastructure since the group announced a naval blockade on Saudi shipping on July 20. The Houthis say the blockade is a response to what they describe as Saudi military actions and restrictions imposed on Yemen.The latest claim follows several recent attacks attributed to the Houthis. On July 27, the group said it carried out drone strikes on oil transport infrastructure linked to the Abqaiq processing complex, a key facility in Saudi Arabia's oil sector. Earlier, between July 25 and 26, the Houthis claimed missile and drone attacks on Aramco facilities in Jazan and Yanbu, targeting major Red Sea export infrastructure that has become increasingly important as Gulf shipping faces growing risks.Saudi Arabia has condemned the attacks as acts of aggression and has accused Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups of involvement in some operations, although the Houthis have publicly claimed responsibility.The attacks come amid an escalating regional confrontation between the United States and Iran, which has expanded beyond direct military exchanges to include proxy operations and attacks on strategic infrastructure. Growing insecurity in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait has intensified concerns over global energy supplies, with Saudi Arabia increasingly relying on Red Sea export routes as an alternative to the Gulf.
