Houthis Claim Attacks on Eight Saudi Oil Tankers

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group has claimed responsibility for attacks on eight Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea.

Houthi spokesperson Amin Hayyan made the claim in a social media post on Wednesday (August 19). He said the attacks were carried out in response to what the group described as restrictions on Saudi maritime traffic, attacks on military positions and alleged violations of Yemen’s sovereignty.

According to Hayyan, five of the eight tankers were targeted in the Red Sea, while three were attacked in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea between July 20 and August 19. The group also claimed to have intercepted 48 Saudi oil tankers traveling through regional waterways.

Hayyan further claimed that Houthi forces conducted nine operations targeting sites in Yanbu, Najran, Jizan and Abha, as well as oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

The Houthi spokesperson said the attacks were also carried out in response to alleged Saudi strikes on Sanaa Airport and Hodeidah Port and alleged violations of Yemeni airspace.