The Houthi movement in Yemen announced on Wednesday that it had launched an attack on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, asserting that the vessels breached a naval blockade established by the group against Saudi Arabia. In their statement, the Houthis indicated that the operation targeted the ships "ENCELA" and "LAYLA" utilizing ballistic and cruise missiles, along with drones. They claimed that the strikes were accurate and resulted in significant fires aboard both vessels.

The Houthis framed the attack as part of their strategy of "a siege for a siege," highlighting what they termed the "unjust and oppressive siege" imposed on Yemen by Saudi Arabia over the last 12 years. They also asserted that their actions compelled nearly ten ships to withdraw from the area following the assault.

This incident follows a warning from the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), a maritime security coalition led by the US Navy and based in Bahrain, which indicated that the Houthis had completed their preparations to target commercial vessels near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. A notice released on Tuesday revealed that sources close to the group reported the deployment of missiles and drones in proximity to this crucial waterway, with intentions to strike ships navigating the southern entrance of the Red Sea.

On Wednesday, the European Union's naval mission cautioned that merchant vessels associated with Israeli, US, or Saudi interests should refrain from traversing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden until the threat level diminishes. Earlier this week, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, prohibiting vessels from loading or unloading cargo at Saudi ports from passing through the area. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a vital route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, essential for global trade.

Data from Kpler indicates that Saudi oil exports via the Yanbu terminal on the Red Sea surged to 3.5 million barrels per day in June, a significant increase from 240,000 barrels per day during the same month last year. While the JMIC reported that commercial shipping had proceeded without incidents over the past two days and assessed the overall threat level as "moderate," ship-tracking firm Kpler noted a 34% drop in traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb on Tuesday following the Houthis' embargo announcement. Additionally, Windward reported that four tankers carrying Saudi cargo turned back before reaching the strait.