Sanaa: Yemen's Houthi rebels on Tuesday announced that they had launched ballistic missiles at a Saudi-flagged oil tanker, the NCC Ghazal, forcing it to reverse course in the Red Sea. This move is part of a naval blockade imposed by the Iran-backed group.

According to Deutsche Welle, a Houthi spokesman stated that the attack on the Saudi vessel occurred after it failed to heed warnings. The Houthis had previously declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, escalating tensions in the region already affected by an Iranian blockade of the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia, which reported intercepting drones in a separate incident aimed at oil facilities, has not responded to the Houthi claim regarding the tanker. The situation highlights the ongoing maritime security challenges in the Red Sea and the broader geopolitical tensions involving Iran and Saudi Arabia.