Houthis claim missile attack on Saudi military ship in Red Sea as naval blockade intensifies

Yemen’s Houthi movement says it launched missiles at a Saudi military ship and four escort vessels in the Red Sea, the latest in a string of claimed attacks since the group declared a naval blockade against Saudi vessels in late July. Independent verification of this specific incident, involving one military vessel and four escorts, has not been confirmed. But the claim fits a pattern of escalating Houthi maritime aggression that has already rattled energy markets and forced shipping companies to rethink their Red Sea routes. A blockade with real consequences The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah and backed by Iran, announced their naval blockade targeting Saudi vessels around July 20, 2026. Since then, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree has claimed responsibility for strikes on multiple Saudi-linked vessels, particularly oil tankers. Tankers including the Wafa, Daisy, Encelia, Layla, and NCC Ghazal have all been named in Houthi strike claims, with incidents reported near strategic chokepoints like the port city of Yanbu and the Gulf of Aden. In one of the deadliest incidents, at least six crew members were killed aboard the cargo ship Tihamah. The Houthis claime...