Houthi Forces Attack Tanker in Red Sea Following Saudi Airstrikes Near Sanaa Airport

A significant security incident occurred near Yemen's coast in the Red Sea on Monday, involving an attempted attack on a commercial tanker by Houthi rebel boats. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations center, a tanker traveling east along the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) reported harassment by six small boats identified as belonging to the Houthis. When one boat approached dangerously close, about 5 cables away, the tanker's security team fired warning shots, causing the remaining five boats to halt and maintain a distance of approximately one nautical mile.

The UK maritime authority has issued an urgent warning to all vessels in the area to exercise heightened vigilance and report any suspicious activity immediately. Investigations into the incident are underway.

Earlier the same day, Saudi Arabia launched a series of airstrikes targeting Houthi positions near Sanaa International Airport, which the Houthis control. The strikes aimed to prevent the landing of an Iranian aircraft. This came shortly after an Iranian executive plane successfully landed at the airport, breaking a four-year Saudi-imposed air blockade.

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree condemned the Saudi attacks, calling them unjust and threatening retaliation. He stated that the Saudi airstrikes marked the end of a de-escalation phase and warned that Saudi Arabia would bear the consequences of its actions.

This escalation highlights the ongoing tensions in the Red Sea maritime corridor and the broader conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement in Yemen.