Coalition destroys Houthi speedboats targeting Red Sea ships

Fighter jets from the Arab coalition destroyed two Houthi boats militias used to target an oil tanker in the Red Sea on Wednesday.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) state news agency WAM reported that UAE coalition forces had destroyed two boats “which were threatening a commercial oil tanker” in the Red Sea. Two other Houthi boats escaped, it added.

In recent months, Houthi militias resorted to the use of booby-trapped speedboats to target ships and seaports, and planted naval mines in an attempt to stop the safe navigation of ships on the coasts of the Red Sea.

Last month, a Saudi oil tanker was hit off Yemen’s main port city of Hodeidah, suffering limited damage, in what coalition forces said was an attack by the Houthis. The Houthis said they had targeted a coalition warship.