Yemeni Forces Strike Saudi Oil Tanker in Red Sea

Yemen's Armed Forces announced on Wednesday that they had targeted the Saudi oil tanker Wafa off the coast of Yanbu in the northern Red Sea with several ballistic missiles. This marks the eighth Saudi oil tanker to be struck since a naval blockade of the kingdom began on July 22.

Military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree stated that the vessel was accurately hit. He also reported that Yemeni forces had prevented 29 Saudi tankers from moving, forcing them to turn back to the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. Saree emphasized that operations in the northern Red Sea would continue and expand "until all passages are closed."

The naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, according to Saree, is being enforced in response to the "unjust siege" imposed by Riyadh on Yemen. The statement did not provide further details on the condition of the tanker or any potential casualties.

According to Mehr News Agency, the attack is part of ongoing tensions between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, which have been involved in a conflict since 2015. The blockade aims to pressure Saudi Arabia to lift its restrictions on Yemeni ports and allow humanitarian aid to reach the country.