Yemeni navy thwarts Houthi attack on oil tanker off Mokha

Yemen’s navy announced it had foiled an attempt by the Iran-backed Houthi militia to target an oil tanker in the Red Sea, after intercepting a booby-trapped boat off the coast of Mokha and neutralizing it before it could reach its target.

In a statement, the military media said naval patrols detected a Houthi boat moving at unusual speed toward the restricted area near the Mokha power station on Friday evening, prompting forces to engage it with appropriate weapons.

The statement noted that the force of the explosion and rising smoke after the boat was hit indicated it was loaded with explosives, confirming the operation had prevented an attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea.

The military media also stressed that all armed forces units remain on high alert to respond to any threats from the Houthi militia, whether by land or sea.