Houthi Rebels Target Shipping Amid Rising Tensions

Thu Oct 23 2025 14:16:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Yemen's Houthi rebels claim responsibility for missile attacks on oil tankers in response to escalated conflicts in the region, raising concerns over maritime safety in the Red Sea.

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched missile attacks on maritime targets, including a Liberian-flagged oil tanker near Saudi Arabia, alleging ties between the vessel's owner and Israel. This marks a continuation of their aggressive stance following a series of airstrikes that have claimed the lives of key Houthi leaders. With over a hundred maritime assaults since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the repercussions for international shipping and regional stability are profound.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen’s Houthi rebels asserted on Monday that they had launched a missile attack on an oil tanker off the Saudi coast in the Red Sea, indicating a possible escalation in their campaign targeting shipping activities in a vital global shipping route.

Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, stated that the missile strike was carried out against the Liberian-flagged vessel, the Scarlet Ray, claiming it had connections to Israel.

The tanker, operated by the Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, is reportedly linked to Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer, who has faced previous Houthi threats. The maritime security firm Ambrey noted that the ship matched the profile of Houthi targets due to alleged Israeli ownership.

The UK’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, which monitors naval traffic in the Middle East, confirmed reports of a 'splash and bang' near the vessel off Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have reportedly engaged over 100 ships in missile and drone attacks tied to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Their maritime campaign has already resulted in the sinking of four vessels and the deaths of at least eight mariners.

The Houthis temporarily halted their assaults after a brief truce was declared during the recent conflict but resumed with renewed vigor following a series of airstrikes by Israel that killed some of their top leadership.

As tensions mount, the safety of international maritime routes hangs in the balance, mirroring the increasingly fraught political landscape surrounding the ongoing hostilities in the region.