Houthi Strikes Saudi Tanker in Gulf of Aden Again

Aden Bay/ ILLUSTRATION PHOTO/DOK Indian Navy

JAKARTA - The Yemeni Houthi group attacked the Saudi Arabian oil tanker, Daisy, in the Gulf of Aden using a ballistic missile, and claimed that the attack hit the ship and forced it to change direction and turn around.

The militant group said the attack on Wednesday, August 5, was successful and managed to hit the tanker directly.

As reported by CNN, Thursday, August 6, the Houthis confirmed that the operation was carried out as part of an effort to enforce a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, based on the principle they call "siege in return for siege".

This refers to their policy of responding to the blockade imposed on Yemen.

The Houthi armed forces further stated that they were closely monitoring the movement of Saudi oil tankers and warned that they would not allow such ships to cross maritime routes, either from the southern Red Sea region or from the north, until the demands they considered legitimate from the Yemeni people were met and the blockade against Yemen was lifted.

There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on the claim.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) received a report on Wednesday regarding an incident involving a loud explosion near a tanker, located 95 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen.

UKMTO stated that all crew members were confirmed to be safe, no environmental impacts were reported, and the authorities were conducting an investigation.

It is not clear whether this ship is the same ship as the one claimed to have been attacked by the Houthi group.