Yemen Houthi Attacks 2 Saudi Oil Tanker Ships in Red Sea

JAKARTA - The Houthi group in Yemen, which is supported by Iran, attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea. This action is the first step for the group to realize their recent threat to blockade Saudi ships.

Reviewed by CNN, Thursday, July 23, the Houthi group identified the ships as Encelia and Layla. According to the MarineTraffic maritime traffic tracking agency, both ships are Saudi Arabian flags.

MarineTraffic states that Layla (identified by the International Maritime Organization/IMO unique number 9336098) is listed as a crude oil tanker that is being loaded. Meanwhile, Encelia (IMO 9240172) is identified as an oil product tanker that is also being loaded.

The ships were attacked in separate incidents at locations about 70 nautical miles (about 80 miles) off the coast of Saudi Arabia, maritime risk consultancy Marisks said on Thursday.

Marisks said Encelia was damaged after being hit by a projectile, while Layla was also targeted.

NASA satellite imagery appears to show the Encelia ship on fire in the Red Sea.

"These incidents appear to be the first implementation of the maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia that was just announced by the Houthi group," Marisk said, quoted by CNN.

"There is a risk that the Houthis may "expand their interpretation of 'sailing related to Saudi Arabia' to include foreign-flagged vessels trading with Saudi ports, carrying Saudi cargo, or operating under Saudi commercial interests," Marisk added.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) said a tanker was attacked at a location 70 nautical miles (about 80 miles) southwest of the city of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia, but did not name the ship.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Press Agency reported that the Encelia ship was targeted while sailing in the Red Sea, which caused a fire in the bow of the ship, quoting an unnamed official from the General Transport Authority.

The report did not mention the Layla.