Houthis claim precise ballistic missile hit on Saudi oil tanker in Red Sea

Published Aug 5, 12:30 PM UTC

The Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen claimed on Wednesday a precise ballistic missile strike on the Saudi-flagged oil tanker 'Wafaa' (NCC WAFA) in the northern Red Sea off the Yanbu area. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated the attack used several ballistic missiles and achieved a precise hit. Maritime intelligence firm Windward reported the tanker had been transmitting until July 19, then went dark and likely U-turned north after the Houthis announced a blockade on July 22, but was struck hundreds of kilometers from the declared blockade zone. The Houthis explicitly tied the strike to Saudi tankers rerouting north to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and vowed escalation. The group claims to have targeted 8 Saudi tankers and intercepted 29 since the blockade announcement. Saudi Arabia has rerouted some exports northward to Egypt and the Suez Canal, while other vessels transit the Bab el-Mandeb in dark mode.