Houthis Claim Ballistic Missile Strike on Saudi Oil Tanker Daisy in Gulf of Aden
Yemen’s Houthi rebels said on Wednesday that they targeted the Saudi-linked oil tanker Daisy with a ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden, claiming a direct hit that forced the vessel to turn back.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced the attack in a statement, describing it as part of the group’s ongoing maritime blockade against Saudi vessels under a “blockade-for-blockade” policy. He said Houthi forces are monitoring Saudi oil tankers and will continue to block their passage through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until what they call the blockade on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen is lifted.
The claim came hours after the group reported a separate ballistic missile attack on another Saudi tanker, the Wafa, off Yanbu in the northern Red Sea.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the master of a tanker heard a loud explosion in close proximity to the vessel while sailing about 95 nautical miles southeast of Aden in the Gulf of Aden. All crew members were reported safe, with no injuries or environmental damage confirmed. Maritime security sources identified the vessel involved as the Dominica-flagged product tanker Daisy, which is Saudi-owned and operated. The ship altered course and went AIS-dark shortly after the incident. Some reports indicated the explosion occurred roughly 40 meters off the port side, producing a shockwave felt on board but causing no confirmed damage to the tanker.
The incident marks an expansion of Houthi targeting beyond the southern Red Sea into the Gulf of Aden. Since announcing a naval embargo on Saudi-linked shipping in mid-July 2026, the group has claimed attacks on multiple Saudi oil tankers, including earlier strikes on vessels such as Encelia and others. Saudi authorities have confirmed hits on some ships in previous incidents, with crews reported safe, but had no immediate public comment on the Daisy claim.
In response to repeated Houthi attacks, multiple Saudi-flagged vessels have been reported rerouting around Africa rather than transiting the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea, adding significant time and cost to voyages. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains a critical chokepoint for global shipping and oil exports.
