**Yemen’s Houthis Claim Missile Attack on Saudi Oil Tanker**
**Published: July 28, 2026**
In a significant escalation of tensions in the region, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has announced that it launched ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker, the NCC GHAZAL. This incident comes shortly after the Houthis imposed a naval blockade on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, which they declared on July 20, 2026.
Yahya Saree, the military spokesman for the Houthis, stated in a post on social media platform X that the missile strike was a military operation aimed at the Saudi tanker for allegedly violating the maritime navigation ban established by the group. According to Saree, multiple ballistic missiles were employed in the attack, which forced the vessel to retreat.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a maritime security monitoring organization, confirmed that a tanker reported an explosion while navigating through the Red Sea. Fortunately, they noted that the crew aboard the vessel was safe and that there was no reported environmental damage resulting from the incident.
The Houthis have been engaged in a protracted conflict with the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, since they seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The ongoing conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with the Houthis accusing Saudi Arabia of imposing an "unjust and oppressive siege" on their country for nearly 12 years. The group claims that their blockade is a legitimate response to the Saudi-led coalition's actions against Yemen.
In addition to the recent missile strike on the NCC GHAZAL, the Houthis had previously claimed responsibility for an attack on two other Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and Layla, on July 22, 2026. Saree stated that these attacks were also justified under the blockade they had declared. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the Encelia was hit during this incident, but, similar to the latest attack, all crew members were reported safe.
The Bab al-Mandeb strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, plays a vital role in global shipping, particularly for oil exports. It is a narrow passage, measuring just 29 kilometers (18 miles) at its narrowest point, which limits traffic to two channels for vessels heading to and from the Suez Canal. In 2024, approximately 4.1 billion barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products transited through the strait, representing about 5 percent of the global total.
As the conflict continues, the international community remains concerned about the implications of such military actions on global shipping routes and regional stability. The situation is being closely monitored, with calls for de-escalation and dialogue between the conflicting parties.