Houthis Claim 31 Attacks on Saudi Targets, Including Eight Oil Tankers
Yemen's Houthi group, also known as Ansar Allah, says it carried out 31 military operations against Saudi targets in the past month, including attacks on oil tankers and military assets, as reported by Middle East Monitor, citing Anadolu. In a social media post, Houthi spokesman Ameen Hayyan detailed the operations, which he said were aimed at restricting Saudi maritime navigation, striking Saudi military deployments, and responding to alleged violations of Yemeni sovereignty.
Details of the Attacks
Hayyan said that from July 20 to August 19, Houthi forces targeted eight Saudi oil tankers, with five attacked in the Red Sea and three in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. This figure was also reported by TASS, which quoted the group's military spokesman Yahya Saria as saying the attacks occurred since July 20, when a ban on maritime shipping against Saudi Arabia was announced. Saria specified that five vessels were attacked in the Red Sea and three in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis also claimed to have prevented 48 Saudi oil tankers from traversing regional waterways, including 14 in the Red Sea and 34 in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, according to Hayyan. TASS reported the same numbers, with Saria saying the tankers were forced to change course.
In addition, the Houthis said they conducted nine operations against targets in Saudi Arabia, including in the regions of Yanbu, Najran, Jizan, and Abha, as well as against oil facilities in the Eastern Province. TASS reported that these operations targeted Yanbu, Najran, Jazan, Abha, and oil infrastructure in the Eastern Province.
Motives and Additional Operations
Hayyan said the attacks were in response to earlier Saudi strikes on Yemen's Sanaa airport and Hodeidah seaport, as well as alleged Saudi airspace violations over Yemen's Saada and Hajjah regions. TASS similarly reported that the actions were described as a response to strikes on Sana'a airport and the port in the Al Hudaydah Governorate.
The Houthis also reported 14 strikes against concentrations of pro-Saudi forces in Yemen, in areas such as Al-Ruwaik, Al-Abr, Al-Wadiyah, Marib, and Mokha, according to Hayyan and Saria. The group claimed these strikes sank two military landing ships near Mocha and more than 10 military vessels in the Red Sea. Saria added that the strikes sank two military landing ships and more than ten boats.
Impact on Saudi Oil Shipping
Separately, The Japan Times reports that Saudi Arabia is being forced to overhaul how its oil gets to customers due to Houthi threats. The top exporter is sending tankers around Africa, and millions of barrels of crude are being shuttled north across the Red Sea, avoiding a narrow strait near Yemen. China is being offered Middle East shipments for collection just outside the Persian Gulf, according to the report.
The Japan Times notes that Saudi Arabia's ability to switch crude exports to its west-coast facilities has been critical in blunting an oil price surge as Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz. However, with Yanbu now under threat from the Iran-backed Houthis, the kingdom and its customers are having to make new arrangements.
No Saudi Comment Yet
Saudi officials have not yet commented on the Houthi claims, as reported by Middle East Monitor. Hayyan warned that further escalation by Riyadh would be met with a proportionate response. Recent weeks have seen steadily mounting tension between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, according to Middle East Monitor.