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Yemen Houthi Rebels Reportedly Claim Attacks on 2 Ships in Red Sea

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Yemen's Houthi rebels said they have attacked two Saudi Arabian tankers, Reuters and Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday.

The group said they hit the Encelia and Layla vessels with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, Reuters said, adding that a Saudi news agency later reported that the Encelia was on fire.

"We targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named Encelia and Layla, for their violation of the blockade decision issued by the armed forces," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Wednesday, Al Jazeera reported.

The state-owned Saudi Press Agency said that the Encelia was struck by a missile causing fire onboard, while sailing in the Red Sea. However, the ship crew is safe and the matter is under investigation.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations also said there were no reported casualties or environmental damage from the attack.

Five tankers rerouted in the Red Sea on Wednesday, Reuters reported, with two of them headed for the Suez Canal.

The disruption of the Red Sea will compound months of disruption blighting the Strait of Hormuz, leaving only the Suez Canal as an entrance and exit point for ships seeking to load Saudi crude.

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