Houthis Launch Missile at Oil Tanker Off Saudi Coast Amid Rising Tensions
Houthi rebels launch a missile at an Israeli-linked oil tanker off the Saudi Red Sea coast, following Israeli airstrikes on Yemen, U.N. agency raids, and months of attacks on commercial shipping in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced on Monday that they launched a missile at a Liberian-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, potentially reigniting attacks on shipping through the strategically crucial waterway.
In a prerecorded statement aired on al-Masirah, a Houthi-controlled satellite channel, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the strike, alleging that the vessel, the Scarlet Ray, had ties to Israel.
The ship is owned by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, a company ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. The company could not be immediately reached for comment, but maritime security firm Ambrey noted that the tanker fits the Houthis’ “target profile” as it is publicly Israeli-owned.
The U.K.’s Maritime Trade Operations center, which monitors shipping in the region, reported that vessels near Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, heard a splash and a loud bang, confirming the missile strike.
The attack comes amid a broader pattern of Houthi strikes. The rebels targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones during the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, sinking four vessels and killing at least eight sailors.
A brief ceasefire temporarily halted their campaign, but the Houthis resumed attacks following U.S.-led airstrikes targeting the group. In July alone, two ships were sunk, resulting in at least four deaths, with additional crew reportedly held by the rebels.
The current escalation coincides with ongoing uncertainty over a potential ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and stalled U.S.-Iran talks on Tehran’s nuclear program. Israel recently carried out a series of airstrikes, killing the Houthis’ prime minister and several Cabinet members.
Observers suggest Monday’s missile strike, along with raids on offices of the United Nations’ food, health, and children’s agencies in Yemen’s capital that left at least 11 U.N. employees detained, may be part of the Houthis’ broader retaliation strategy.
The incident underscores the growing risks to maritime trade in the Red Sea and the heightened volatility across the Middle East, as regional actors respond to ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions.
