Yemen: Houthis Announce Strike on Saudi Oil Tanker, Military Build-Up in Hadramout

Sanaa – Yemen’s Houthi movement announced Monday that its forces targeted a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea and carried out military operations against troop concentrations in Hadramout province, eastern Yemen.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a statement broadcast by the group’s Al-Masirah TV that the Saudi tanker “Amzan” was struck north of the Red Sea off Yanbu with a ballistic missile, causing a fire onboard. 

He described the attack as part of the group’s enforcement of a ban on Saudi maritime navigation.

Saree added that Houthi forces launched two separate operations in Hadramout. 

The first targeted a large military convoy in the al-Abr and al-Wadi’ah areas with ballistic missiles and drones, destroying more than 10 trucks loaded with weapons. 

The second operation struck troop gatherings in al-Kana’is, on the border between Marib and al-Jawf provinces, killing and wounding dozens, including commanders, and destroying weapons depots.

The spokesman warned that the group is prepared to escalate with “stronger and wider operations” if confronted.

The escalation comes amid rising tensions since mid-July, when the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of bombing Sanaa airport to block the landing of an Iranian aircraft. 

The group later claimed responsibility for attacks on Abha airport and announced a naval blockade on vessels linked to the kingdom.