Houthis claim missile attack on Saudi oil tanker in Red Sea after blockade announcement

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said it struck the Saudi tanker NCC Ghazal with a missile in the Red Sea on July 29 after the vessel ignored warnings, adding that the ship was forced to change course. The claim follows the group’s July 20 announcement of a maritime ban on Saudi vessels. A UK maritime agency said a tanker in the Red Sea reported explosions and that there were no casualties. The latest incident adds to concerns over shipping security in the Bab al-Mandeb, a critical route for oil and global trade. Saudi Arabia also said it coordinated with U.S. Central Command on strikes in Iraq after more than 30 drone attacks in 72 hours, underscoring the wider regional security backdrop surrounding the Red Sea shipping threat.