Yemen's Houthi movement (an Iran-backed armed group controlling much of northern Yemen) has claimed responsibility for striking a Saudi oil tanker with a ballistic missile in the Red Sea, saying the attack caused a fire on board and prompted nearby vessels to flee the area. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed that a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile approximately 63 nautical miles west of the Saudi port city of Yanbu, though it noted all crew were safe and no environmental damage was reported. The strike is part of an ongoing Houthi maritime blockade targeting Saudi shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb strait — a critical chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden that handles roughly 12% of global maritime trade — amid a broader escalation of hostilities between the group and Riyadh that has also seen attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure and airports.