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The Houthis claim to have struck a Saudi oil tanker with a ballistic missile in the Red Sea

The Houthis rebel group claimed on Monday that they struck a Saudi oil tanker, the Amzan, with a ballistic missile in the Red Sea. The vessel, belonging to the Saudi national shipping company Bahri, caught fire on its main deck after being hit 63 nautical miles west of the port city of Yanbu. While the vessel was struck by an "unknown projectile" according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, the Houthis stated the strike was an accurate and direct hit intended to ban maritime navigation for the Saudi enemy. All crew members were reported safe and accounted for with no environmental impact. This incident occurs as the Houthis continue to implement a maritime blockade of Saudi-linked vessels. The strike follows a period of economic pressure from the administration, which is expanding secondary sanctions to target entities and countries doing business with the Iranian regime. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced these sanctions to sever economic lifelines for Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian officials have warned that they will not export a single drop of oil if the economic war continues.

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