Sana’a Announces Targeting of New Saudi Oil Tanker in the Gulf of Aden for the Second Time in Under 24 Hours
The operation comes as part of enforcing the decision to ban Saudi navigation under the "blockade for blockade" equation, expanding the operational scope to the Gulf of Aden for the first time.
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Wednesday evening the execution of a new military operation targeting a Saudi oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden—marking the second such strike in less than 24 hours in a fresh escalation within operations enforcing a naval navigation blockade on Saudi vessels.
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, stated that the missile force successfully targeted the Saudi oil tanker Daisy with a ballistic missile, confirming that the operation achieved its target successfully.
Targeting Under the “Blockade for Blockade” Equation
Saree explained that the operation comes within the framework of enforcing the naval blockade on Saudi Arabia under the “blockade for blockade” equation, which Sana’a declared in response to the ongoing blockade imposed on Yemen.
He emphasized that the Yemeni Armed Forces will not permit the passage of any Saudi vessel through the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden—whether from the southern or northern approaches—until the blockade is lifted and what he described as the legitimate demands of the Yemeni people are met.
Expansion of Operations to the Gulf of Aden
The targeting of the tanker in the Gulf of Aden represents a notable development, as this marks the first time Sana’a has announced an operation against a Saudi vessel in this maritime corridor, following previous operations that were primarily concentrated in the Red Sea.
Observers believe that shifting operations to the Gulf of Aden reflects a broadening scope in enforcing the navigation blockade and signals Sana’a’s insistence on applying its announced measures against Saudi ship movements until its stated objectives are achieved.
