Houthis Claim Ballistic Missile Strike on Saudi Tanker NCC Ghazal
Yemen's Houthi military spokesman said Tuesday the group targeted the Saudi oil tanker NCC Ghazal with ballistic missiles, forcing the vessel to turn back.
Developing story — this page will be updated as information becomes available.
Yemen’s Houthi forces claimed Tuesday that they struck the Saudi-flagged oil tanker NCC GHAZAL with ballistic missiles, forcing the vessel to reverse course, according to Middle East Monitor citing Anadolu. The claim was delivered on record by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree.
What we know
Saree said in a statement that the group’s forces used ballistic missiles to target the NCC GHAZAL and that the strike compelled the tanker to turn back, per Middle East Monitor’s report. The NCC GHAZAL is identified as a Saudi oil tanker.
The claim lands the same day Saudi Aramco shut its 400,000-barrel-per-day Jazan refinery following a Houthi attack on July 27, OilPrice reported citing an IIR note seen by Reuters. IIR said the strike damaged the refinery’s Integrated Gasification unit.
Tuesday’s tanker claim extends a widening Houthi campaign against Saudi oil that has already produced a confirmed shutdown at the Abqaiq processing complex earlier in the day.
What we don’t know
Saudi authorities, the vessel operator, and Riyadh’s energy ministry have not publicly confirmed the strike or any damage to the NCC GHAZAL. The tanker’s cargo status, location at the time of the reported attack, and whether any crew were injured are not disclosed. Independent visual confirmation is not yet available. This story is developing.
Context
The claim escalates the Houthi campaign from fixed oil infrastructure to Saudi-flagged shipping. It intersects with the Aramco shutdown at Abqaiq after Monday’s drone strikes, the wider multi-country drone wave that hit Israel, Jordan, and Iraq on Monday, and Iran’s weekend claim of control over the Strait of Hormuz during the current pause in direct US–Iran strikes.
A confirmed missile hit on a Saudi tanker would mark the first vessel-targeted strike of this cycle and raise war-risk insurance premiums across Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb transit lanes.
What to watch
- Whether Saudi authorities, the vessel operator, or maritime security firms (UKMTO, Ambrey) issue independent confirmation of an impact and any damage to the NCC GHAZAL.
- Whether war-risk premiums for Saudi-flagged shipping in the Red Sea move in Wednesday’s London session.
- Whether Riyadh cites the tanker claim in acting on its previously stated “right to respond” with strikes inside Yemen.
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