Yemen's Houthis claim attacks on eight Saudi oil tankers

Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, commonly known as the Houthis, has attacked eight Saudi oil tankers since July 20, the movement’s military spokesperson Yahya Sarea has said.

He made clear that five of the vessels were attacked in the Red Sea, while three others were targeted in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

According to him, the Houthis had also blocked the passage of 48 Saudi tankers during the same period, forcing them to change course. Of these, 34 vessels were stopped in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, while 14 were stopped in the Red Sea.

In his words, the Houthis had carried out nine military operations targeting sites in Saudi Arabia, including in Yanbu, Najran, Jizan and Abha, as well as oil infrastructure in the Eastern Province.

Sarae described the actions as retaliation for strikes on Sana’a Airport and a port in Yemen’s Al Hudaydah province.

In addition, the Houthis claimed to have carried out 14 strikes on positions of pro-Saudi forces in Yemen, including in Al-Ruwayk, Al-Abr, Al-Wadiah, Marib and Mocha.

The movement’s spokesperson stated that the attacks sank two military landing ships and more than 10 boats.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov