THE Houthis have claimed responsibility for another attack on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, this time targeting NCC Wafa (IMO: 9688348), a Saudi Arabia-flagged tanker controlled by Bahri.

The 2014-built, 49,990 dwt medium range product tanker was reportedly struck while transiting the region, marking the latest escalation in the group’s campaign against merchant vessels.

Spokesperson for the Yemeni faction, Yahya Saree, said via social media platform X that his group “successfully targeted the Saudi oil tanker” in the northern Red Sea “with a number of ballistic missiles”.

While some security sources in the region have confirmed that NCC Wafa was indeed subject to an attack, Lloyd’s List has not been able to independently verify whether the tanker was struck by projectiles or how much damage it sustained.

The Houthi campaign against commercial shipping resumed last month after a months-long absence.

The group imposed a blockade on Saudi ports on July 20 and quickly followed through on its threat to target vessels that breached it, striking the Saudi Arabia-flagged Encelia (IMO: 9240172) just days later.

On Tuesday (August 4), India-flagged dhow Faize Noore Oliya was also hit in the Red Sea. The vessel later capsized and sank, though all seafarers on board were rescued by Yemeni authorities. The Houthis are also thought to be behind that attack.