Houthi Militants Expand Strikes on Saudi Oil Tankers Across Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
The maritime security situation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden deteriorated sharply on August 5, as Yemen’s Houthi forces launched successive ballistic missile attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, extending their operational reach to both the northern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Published
11:19
Houthi Militants Expand Strikes on Saudi Oil Tankers Across Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
The maritime security situation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden deteriorated sharply on August 5, as Yemen’s Houthi forces launched successive ballistic missile attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, extending their operational reach to both the northern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Houthi military forces, confirmed in a televised speech on the evening of August 5 that Yemeni naval troops accurately struck the Saudi oil tanker Daisy in the Gulf of Aden with ballistic missiles. The 2014-built medium-sized product tanker, with a deadweight of approximately 49,990 tons, sustained structural damage and was forced to abort its voyage and turn back.
Saree stated that the strike was part of the group’s tit-for-tat strategy to counter the Saudi-led blockade on Yemen. He stressed that Houthi forces are closely monitoring all Saudi oil tanker movements and will bar all Saudi-linked vessels from passing through the northern and southern Red Sea waters until the blockade on Yemen is fully lifted.
Earlier the same day, the Houthi movement announced another successful strike in the northern Red Sea. Multiple ballistic missiles targeted and precisely hit the Saudi oil tanker Wafa off the coast of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Since July 22, the Houthi faction has targeted eight Saudi-associated oil tankers and forced 29 others to divert routes due to military deterrence.
In response to Saudi shipping companies rerouting tankers northward to evade southern Red Sea blockades, the Houthi group has expanded its strike range northward, officially incorporating the previously safe northern Red Sea shipping lanes near the Suez Canal into its combat radius.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued two incident alerts on August 5. Its 106/26 notice reported an explosion near a tanker 95 nautical miles southeast of Aden at 14:30 UTC. No crew injuries or oil spills were recorded, and relevant authorities have launched an investigation. Maritime insiders confirmed the incident corresponds with the Houthi attack on theDaisy.
Additionally, a UKMTO earlier alert confirmed the final outcome of an August 4 attack: the Indian-flagged cargo ship FAIZE NOORE OLIYA sank after an explosion in the southern Red Sea off Hodeidah. All 14 crew members, including 13 Indians and one Yemeni national, were rescued by Yemeni coast guards and transferred to Mokha Port with no fatalities.
A fresh UKMTO notice (107) released on August 5 documented another security incident near the Strait of Hormuz, where a passing tanker reported two explosions 9 nautical miles southeast of Kumzar, Oman. The vessel and its crew remained unharmed, with no environmental pollution reported.
Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Bagheri stated in a recent interview that Iran and Oman are finalizing a new maritime channel agreement. The deal will close both Iranian-controlled northern waterways and Omani-administered southern passages, establishing a new maritime traffic model different from the past six decades.
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