Houthis Strike Saudi Ship NCC GHAZAL with Ballistic Missiles in Red Sea

Yemen's Houthis fired ballistic missiles at the Saudi ship NCC Ghazal in the southern Red Sea on July 28. The ship turned back. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced the strike, saying the ship had violated the group's maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and had rejected warning calls before they opened fire.

UK Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors commercial shipping safety in the region, reported that a ship had heard an explosion while transiting the southern Red Sea that day. Crew were safe. There was no environmental damage.

NCC Ghazal had gone dark on AIS tracking on July 23, last recorded near the Saudi oil port of Yanbu. The July 28 attack is the fourth Houthi strike on a Saudi ship in recent weeks. The NCC Masa, Encelia, and Layla were all hit before July 28.