Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile attack on the Saudi-flagged chemical tanker NCC Ghazal in the Red Sea, marking the latest attempt to enforce their self-declared blockade of Saudi ports amid escalating regional tensions.
The group said the vessel was targeted for violating the blockade and was forced to retreat, although there was no indication the tanker was hit. The NCC Ghazal has been operating with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched off, with its last reported position near Yanbu on 23 July.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the master of a tanker reported hearing an explosion while transiting the Red Sea off Jizan. It added that the crew were safe and no environmental damage was reported, while advising vessels to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.
The attack comes a week after the Houthis struck the Saudi-flagged product tanker Encelia following their announcement of a blockade on Saudi ports. The group also claimed to have hit the Bahri very large crude carrier Layla, although the claim has not been independently verified.
The vessel resumed transmitting its AIS signal on 28 July after operating in stealth mode. The latest maritime incident coincided with renewed tensions in the Gulf after Iran launched ballistic missiles at US forces in the Middle East. The US Central Command said all the missiles were successfully intercepted.