Saudi-led coalition destroys Huthi boats targeting tanker in

DUBAI – Reuters

A Saudi-led military coalition destroyed two Huthi boats threatening an oil tanker in the Red Sea on May 23, state media reported.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) coalition forces destroyed two boats deployed by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Huthi movement “which were threatening a commercial oil tanker in the Red Sea”, while two other boats escaped, the UAE state news agency WAM said.

There was no mention of whether the tanker had been damaged in the incident, which was also reported by Saudi-owned broadcaster Al Arabiya television. No details about the tanker were provided.

Last month, a Saudi oil tanker was hit off Yemen’s main port city of Hodeidah, suffering limited damage, in what coalition forces said was an attack by the Huthis, without identifying the type of weapon used in the assault. The Huthis said they had targeted a coalition warship.

The Western-backed coalition of mostly Gulf Arab states intervened against the Huthis in Yemen’s war in 2015 to restore the internationally recognized government in exile and push back the Huthis, who still control the north of the country.