Houthi rebels claim attack on Saudi oil tanker in Red Sea

Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for an attack on a Saudi Arabian oil tanker in the Red Sea on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, marking the latest escalation in their declared maritime blockade of the kingdom. The group's military spokesman, Yahya Saree, stated in a video announcement that the Yemeni Armed Forces targeted the Saudi oil tanker named Wafaa off the coast of Yanbu using several ballistic missiles, achieving what he described as a precise hit.

According to the Houthi spokesman, this attack represents the eighth Saudi oil tanker targeted since the group initiated a maritime blockade on July 22, 2026. Saree asserted that the blockade has forced Saudi Arabia to divert its oil shipments toward the northern Red Sea, prompting the Houthis to escalate attacks in that area to close all access points. Saudi authorities have not yet confirmed the attack or provided details on potential casualties or damage to the vessel.

The incident occurs amid a broader campaign by the Iran-backed Houthis, who have repeatedly targeted Saudi oil infrastructure and shipping lanes since the onset of Yemen's civil war. The group says these actions are retaliatory measures against the...