Houthi rebels strike Saudi oil tanker Wafa in Red Sea escalation
On August 5, 2026, Houthi rebels fired ballistic missiles at the Saudi-flagged oil tanker Wafa near the port city of Yanbu. The attack, claimed by Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea, represents a major escalation following the group's July declaration closing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping. No casualties were reported on the Wafa, though the strike coincided with the sinking of an Indian-flagged commercial vessel in the region just 24 hours prior.
Date: August 5, 2026
Location: Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Conflict: Red Sea Crisis
Category: naval
Severity: HIGH
Source: Associated Press