A Saudi company-owned oil tanker caught fire after coming under attack in the Red Sea, while Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for targeting two Saudi-linked vessels….reports Asian Lite News Desk
A Saudi company-owned tanker caught fire after coming under attack while sailing in the Red Sea on Thursday, Saudi authorities said, as Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for striking two Saudi-linked oil tankers.
According to an official source at Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority (TGA), cited by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the attack triggered a fire at the bow of the tanker Encelia. All crew members aboard the vessel were reported safe.
The authority said Saudi officials had taken all necessary measures to secure the ship, ensure the safety of its crew and protect the marine environment.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident occurred around 70 nautical miles (130 kilometres) southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia, in the southern Red Sea.
In a statement broadcast later on Thursday, Yemen’s Houthi movement said it had targeted two Saudi oil tankers, Enceliaand Layla, using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones.
The group claimed the vessels had violated maritime restrictions it announced earlier this week. The Houthis declared a maritime ban on Saudi-linked vessels two days earlier, describing the move as a response to what they called Saudi Arabia’s long-standing blockade of areas under their control.
The Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the Houthi claims regarding the second vessel or the weapons allegedly used in the attack.
The latest incident has intensified concerns over security in the Red Sea, a critical shipping corridor linking the Suez Canal with the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Indian Ocean.
The attack also comes amid broader concerns over maritime security in the region, with disruptions already affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Shipping analytics firm Kpler reported on Wednesday that vessel traffic through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait declined sharply on Tuesday as regional security conditions worsened.
The company also said several vessels had made confirmed U-turns near the Gulf of Aden following Houthi threats against Saudi-linked shipping, indicating that shipping operators were adopting more cautious routing decisions.
Kpler warned that continued attacks around the region’s two strategic maritime chokepoints could force changes to global shipping routes, increase freight costs and keep geopolitical risk premiums elevated in international energy markets.
