Houthis announce missile strike against Jizan in Saudi Arabia

The Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis announced a missile attack on the southern Saudi city of Jizan, the group's "Ansarallah" media outlet reported on Telegram. Saudi Arabian authorities had earlier issued brief warnings to residents of Jizan and Yanbu after the rebels stated they would retaliate for strikes against the kingdom from the past week.

Tension in the region comes against the backdrop of earlier claims by the Houthis that on June 23 they had carried out missile and drone strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. At that time, a naval embargo against Saudi Arabia was also announced amidst the war between the US and Iran.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the Houthis stated that they had "conducted a high-quality military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers that violated the blockade," identifying the ships as the "Encelia" and "Layla".

According to the information at the time, the group presented the attack as a retaliatory move against vessels that it claimed had violated the blockade declared by the movement. Saudi authorities and international observers continue to monitor the situation in the Red Sea and around important maritime routes in the region.