Houthis Claim Attack on Tanker Off Saudi Port of Yanbu

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for an attack on a vessel off the Saudi Arabian port city of Yanbu. The claim was made by the group's military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, in a televised address on Monday.

The Saudi Center for International Communication did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Houthi statement.

Earlier in the day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that a tanker had been struck by an unknown projectile approximately 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu. The UKMTO confirmed that all crew members were safe and accounted for, and that there was no reported environmental impact from the incident.

Yanbu is Saudi Arabia's primary Red Sea oil port, handling millions of barrels of crude per day. It has become a key export route for Saudi oil, offering an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which has faced blockade threats from Iran.

Shipping in the Red Sea has faced increasing disruption since the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi-linked vessels last month. The group has conducted several attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure and shipping in recent weeks. In July, the Houthis claimed to have targeted Saudi oil giant Aramco's facilities in Yanbu, though Saudi authorities did not confirm or comment on that claim.