Yemen's Houthi movement said it attacked the Saudi oil tanker Amzan in the Red Sea off the port of Yanbu on Monday, using a ballistic missile and drones. The group's military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said the vessel, operated by Saudi shipping company Bahri, was targeted as part of a broader operation the Houthis have dubbed 'siege for siege'.
Bahri confirmed that the Amzan was involved in a maritime incident in the Red Sea, stating that all crew members were safe and no injuries had been reported. The company said it remained in contact with the vessel and was coordinating with the relevant authorities. However, there has been no official confirmation from Saudi officials, and an Al Jazeera request for comment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received no response.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a tanker had been struck by an unknown projectile about 63 nautical miles (117 kilometers) west of Yanbu, without specifying the vessel.
Escalating Attacks
The attack on the Amzan is the latest in a series of Houthi strikes on Saudi and commercial shipping in recent weeks. The group has declared a blockade on Saudi-linked vessels in the Red Sea and has launched attacks that have disrupted shipping around Yanbu, a key oil port. In recent weeks, the Houthis killed seven people in a Yemeni port and targeted an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia. They also killed at least six people and wounded 10 others in a double-tap strike on a cargo vessel in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
These actions follow the collapse of a UN-brokered ceasefire and the resumption of hostilities between the Houthis and a Saudi-backed coalition. The Houthis have framed their attacks as retaliation for the Saudi-led coalition's intervention in Yemen's civil war and in support of Iran, which backs the group.
Military Operations and Objectives
The Houthis said the attack on the Amzan was part of implementation of the armed forces' decision to ban maritime navigation by the "Saudi enemy." They have also claimed fresh attacks on Saudi military convoys carrying equipment to Yemeni government forces, saying they destroyed more than ten trucks loaded with weapons in the Al-Abr and Al-Wadi'ah areas. In a separate operation, they said they targeted Saudi forces in the Al-Kanais area, causing deaths and injuries.
Earlier this month, the group laid out three objectives: imposing a "siege for siege" on Saudi shipping, "striking Saudi troop buildups wherever they are," and "protecting Yemen's sovereignty and confronting any enemy incursions." The Houthis stated that their naval measures had imposed a tight blockade on Saudi interests, asserting that "not a single ship can pass through."
The escalating attacks have raised fears of a wider regional conflict, with the Red Sea being a critical waterway for global energy supplies. The remarks by IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi, who boasted that Saudi Arabia cannot defeat the group, have further fueled concerns of a prolonged confrontation.