Yemeni Houthi forces fired ballistic missiles at the Saudi tanker NCC Ghazal in the Red Sea, forcing it to turn back, military spokesman Yahya Saree said on July 28, state media reported.

The claim marks the third reported attack on Saudi-linked shipping in a week and confirms a shift in the group's targeting from Israeli and Western-connected vessels to enforcing a declared blockade of Saudi Arabia. Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb has fallen to roughly 20 vessels a day from about 50 before the threats were issued, leaving Saudi crude and product exports through the southern Red Sea exposed on their shortest route to Europe.

Saree said the tanker was struck with several ballistic missiles after ignoring warning calls and was forced to retreat. He said Houthi forces would continue to enforce what he called a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia under a formula of siege for siege and comprehensive escalation for comprehensive escalation.

The statement was issued on social media and carried by the Houthi-run broadcaster Al-Masirah. Saudi authorities, the vessel's operator and the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre had not confirmed the incident at the time of filing, and the extent of any damage could not be established.

NCC Ghazal is operated by National Chemical Carriers, a Saudi shipping company majority owned by Bahri, the state-controlled National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia. Saree described the vessel as an oil tanker.

Two Saudi tankers were targeted in the preceding week, one of which was hit and caught fire. The group has said the strait remains open to shipping not connected to Saudi Arabia.

The campaign against Saudi vessels was launched in solidarity with Iran, whose war with the US and Israel began in February.

Saudi Aramco shut its 400,000 barrel a day Jazan refinery in the south west of the kingdom following a separate Houthi attack, Reuters reported, citing the consultancy IIR. The strike damaged the refinery's integrated complex.