Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, said on Wednesday that it had attacked eight Saudi oil tankers and prevented 48 other vessels from passing since July 20.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the attacks were carried out as part of the movement’s declared campaign to restrict maritime traffic linked to Saudi Arabia.
“Since the announcement on July 20 of the decision to ban maritime shipping for the Saudi adversary and up to today, the Yemeni armed forces have carried out strikes on eight Saudi oil tankers,” Sarea said in a statement posted on Telegram.
He said five of the tankers were attacked in the Red Sea, while three were targeted in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.
The Houthi spokesman also said the movement had prevented 48 Saudi tankers from continuing their journeys and forced them to change course.
According to Sarea, 34 vessels were stopped in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, while another 14 were stopped in the Red Sea.
He said the actions were part of the Houthis’ declared strategy of imposing “a blockade in response to a blockade”.
The Houthis also claimed to have destroyed two landing ships and more than 10 military boats.
