The Houthi rebel group announced an attack on the “Amzan,” a vessel operated by Saudi national shipping company Bahri, in the Red Sea near the port city of Yanbu. A Houthi military spokesperson stated the ship was targeted with a ballistic missile. Bahri confirmed the vessel was involved in a maritime incident and said it was coordinating with relevant authorities, noting that all crew members remained safe with no injuries reported.
The company emphasized that protecting personnel safety, preserving the maritime environment, and ensuring safe vessel management were primary concerns. Saudi officials did not provide comment on the incident when contacted by media outlets. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency had separately reported earlier that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile approximately 117 kilometers west of Yanbu.
This latest incident represents part of an ongoing pattern of Houthi operations targeting Saudi assets in recent weeks. The group has previously conducted strikes resulting in casualties at a Yemeni port, targeted an oil refinery within Saudi Arabia, and executed attacks on cargo vessels in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis characterized the action as aligned with a broader military decision to restrict maritime navigation by Saudi-linked vessels.
The attacks appear connected to broader regional tensions, with the Houthis acting in support of Iran and attempting to disrupt energy supplies as a pressure tactic. Yanbu functions as Saudi Arabia’s primary Red Sea oil export facility and has become increasingly important as an alternative route for Saudi oil shipments seeking to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blockaded. Shipping disruptions around Yanbu have intensified since the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi-linked vessels in the Red Sea and commenced military operations against commercial traffic in the area.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI