Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claimed early Thursday to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, in what appears to be the group’s first enforcement action of its recent threat to blockade Saudi ships.
Here’s what we know about the tankers:
The Houthis, one of Iran’s principal allies in the region, identified the vessels as the Encelia and Layla. Both are Saudi-flagged, according to maritime tracking agency MarineTraffic.
The Layla (identified by its unique International Maritime Organization number 9336098) is listed as a laden crude oil tanker, while the Encelia (IMO 9240172) is identified as a laden oil products tanker, MarineTraffic said.
The vessels were struck in separate attacks approximately 70 nautical miles (around 80 miles) off the Saudi coast, maritime risk consultancy Marisks said Thursday. The Encelia sustained damage after being hit by a projectile, Marisks said, while the Layla was also “targeted.”
Satellite imagery from NASA appears to show the Encelia on fire in the Red Sea.
“These incidents represent the first apparent implementation of the Houthis’ recently announced maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia,” Marisk said.
There is a risk the Houthis “may broaden their interpretation of ‘Saudi-linked shipping’ to include foreign-flagged vessels trading with Saudi ports, carrying Saudi cargoes or operating under Saudi commercial interests,” Marisk added.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said a tanker had been struck 70 nautical miles (around 80 miles) southwest of the Saudi Arabian town of Al Shuqaiq, but it did not provide the vessel’s name.
Meanwhile, Saudi Press Agency said the Encelia was “targeted while sailing in the Red Sea,” causing “a fire on the vessel’s bow,” citing an unnamed official at the General Transport Authority. In its report, it did not comment on the Layla.
CNN’s Eleni Giokos contributed reporting.