Houthis in Yemen announced that they targeted two Saudi oil tankers with missiles and drones in the Red Sea due to what they called “a violation of the maritime blockade,” and forced 10 other ships to change course.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center also reported an attack on an oil tanker near the Saudi coastal city of Al-Shuqaiq.

The Houthis named the targeted tankers as “Ansalya” and “Lyla,” but no independent information has yet been released about damage, the crew’s condition, or any possible oil leak.

Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesman, said these attacks were part of the implementation of Saudi Arabia’s maritime blockade and threatened that reciprocal attacks would continue if Riyadh’s military operations intensified.

Saudi Arabia also said it will use legal measures permitted under international law to protect its ships.

The attacks came after increased tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, and alongside the war between the United States and the Islamic Republic, raising concerns about disruptions to shipping and energy transfers in the Red Sea.

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