Yemen's Houthis say they targeted two Saudi tankers; source says Encelia hit by missile

Yemen's Houthis said early on Thursday they had carried out a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers, and maritime security reports said one of the vessels named by the group, the Saudi-flagged tanker Encelia, had been hit in the Red Sea.

The Houthis identified the two tankers as "ENCELIA" and "LAYLA", saying the vessels had violated a naval blockade imposed by the Iran-aligned group on Saudi Arabia. The Houthis said they targeted the tankers with a number of ballistic and cruise missiles.

The Houthis said on Monday they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, a move that threatens to disrupt global energy supplies beyond the Gulf.