(REUTERS). A Saudi Arabian oil tanker caught fire after being attacked while sailing in the Red Sea, Saudi state media reported on Thursday (July 23), as Yemen's Houthi militia claimed it had targeted two vessels in a military operation in the same waters.
The Saudi Arabian state news agency SPA, citing an official source at the General Transport Authority, said an attack caused a fire on the bow of the tanker Encelia but all crew members were safe. SPA did not say who had targeted the vessel.
Authorities have secured the vessel and its crew and taken measures to protect the marine environment, describing the attack as a violation of international law, SPA reported, citing the source.
Separately in their statement, the Houthis said they attacked two tankers, the Encelia and Layla, saying the vessels had violated a naval blockade imposed by the Iran-aligned group on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. The Houthis said they targeted the tankers with a number of ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones.
A maritime security source said earlier on Thursday that the Encelia had transmitted a distress call via VHF radio, reporting it had been struck by a missile while operating at the outer port limits of Saudi Arabia's Jizan, in the Red Sea, and was on fire.
Posted by: Alma Angeles/NET25 News
