Conflict & Security
Houthis say Saudi tanker NCC Ghazal targeted in Red Sea
Yemen's Houthi rebels said Tuesday they targeted the Saudi oil tanker NCC Ghazal in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles, alleging it violated a blockade on Saudi ports announced by the group.
A Houthi military spokesman said the Saudi vessel was targeted after it ignored warnings. He identified the ship as the NCC Ghazal and said it had been "forced to turn back".
MarineTraffic, owned by maritime tracking firm Kpler, listed the Ghazal as a Saudi-flagged tanker whose last known location was the port of Yanbu, the terminus of an important oil pipeline on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast.
Last week, the Iran-backed Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia. They have since claimed attacks targeting Saudi tankers and oil infrastructure.
The blockade has threatened Saudi Arabia's ability to get supplies to world markets after Iran's parallel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia's only other maritime route.
Riyadh last week struck Houthi targets in Yemen in response to threats to Red Sea shipping.
A Saudi-led military coalition fought the Houthis in support of Yemen's internationally recognised government after war broke out in Yemen in 2015. The latest flare-up marks the first time in years that Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have traded blows, threatening a 2022 truce that has held despite expiring.
Update
MarineTraffic, owned by maritime tracking firm Kpler, listed the Ghazal as a Saudi-flagged tanker whose last known location was the Saudi port of Yanbu.
The source item says the Houthi blockade threatens Saudi Arabia's ability to get supplies to the world after Iran's parallel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The item says Riyadh struck Houthi targets in Yemen last week in response to threats to Red Sea shipping.
The latest flare-up is described as the first time in years that Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have traded blows, threatening a 2022 truce that has held despite expiring.
Source note: AFP news report published on 28 July 2026 at 18:34:35 UTC.
Update
The Houthis identified the Saudi tanker as the NCC Ghazal.
The Houthis said they targeted the vessel with ballistic missiles.
The Houthis said the ship allegedly violated their blockade on Saudi ports.
A Houthi military spokesman said the vessel ignored warnings and was forced to turn back.
Source note: AFP news report published on 28 July 2026 at 17:43:28 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The supplied material does not include confirmation from Saudi Arabia, the ship's operator or an independent authority that the NCC Ghazal was hit or forced to turn back.
The supplied material does not state whether the vessel sustained damage or whether anyone was injured.
Source
AFP news report published on .