Houthis claim Red Sea tanker attacks amid ongoing US strikes on Iran

What happened

BBC Middle East Yemen reports that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group say they attacked two Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and Layla, in the Red Sea. The attacks would be the first since the Houthis declared a "maritime embargo" on Saudi Arabia and claim to have closed the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping waterway. However, their responsibility for the attacks has not been independently confirmed.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The Houthis' military spokesperson Yahya Saree said drones and missiles were used to target the two tankers for violating their naval blockade, promising ongoing naval operations under a "siege for a siege" policy. The Saudi Press Agency confirmed the Encelia was struck, causing a fire on its bow, describing the incident as a violation of international law but reporting all crew were safe. UK Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO) and British maritime risk group Vanguard corroborated a strike on the Encelia, noting a fire but no casualties. The situation of the Layla tanker remains unconfirmed.

Meanwhile, US Central Command reported launching strikes on Iranian military targets—maritime, missile, drone storage, surveillance, and air defense assets—under President Donald Trump's orders. These represent the 12th consecutive night of US operations aimed at degrading Iran’s threat to civilian and commercial shipping. Iranian state media said two people had been killed in these strikes in Iran’s south near Iraq’s border. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed the Strait of Hormuz was "completely closed" following an explosion and that three tankers were stopped, with one catching fire in a mined section.

Known from the source

• Houthis claim to have attacked two Saudi oil tankers, named Encelia and Layla, in the Red Sea.
• The Saudi Press Agency confirmed the Encelia was struck, causing a fire, with all crew safe.
• UKMTO and Vanguard reported a Saudi tanker, probably the Encelia, was hit by an unknown projectile causing a fire but no casualties.
• US Central Command launched strikes on Iranian military targets including maritime facilities by President Trump's order.
• Iranian state media report two killed in US strikes in southern Iran near Iraq’s border.

What remains unclear

This escalation follows President Trump’s explicit threats to target Iranian infrastructure if attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz continued and to "take care of" the Houthis if they blocked the Red Sea. The Houthis had earlier announced a maritime embargo but offered few details, with reports indicating at least seven oil tankers have turned back near Yemen since. The Red Sea route is critical for Saudi oil exports, especially as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed due to US-Iran hostilities.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Independent confirmation of Houthi responsibility for the Layla tanker attack. Verification of all casualty figures from US strikes reported by Iranian media. Independent confirmation of the claimed closure of Bab al-Mandab Strait by Houthis.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: BBC Middle East Yemen. Open the source.