Ansarallah’s ballistic missile operation in the Red Sea comes amid vows of a “harsh response” to the killing of top officials in an Israeli airstrike on Thursday.
The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Sunday that they carried out a military operation targeting the Israeli oil tanker SCARLET RAY in the northern Red Sea.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, confirmed on Monday that the vessel was struck directly with a ballistic missile. He emphasized that the attack was part of Yemen’s continued support for the Palestinian people in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli war on the besieged Strip.
The military statement stressed that Yemeni forces would keep up operations aimed at obstructing Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea and preventing ships from reaching the ports of occupied Palestine.
Ansarallah Leader Vows Escalation after Israeli Strike Kills Yemeni Prime Minister
Yemeni officials also vowed to continue striking Israeli targets in occupied Palestine itself, framing these actions as part of their duty to defend the Palestinian cause.
The operation coincided with reports from British maritime security firm Ambrey and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which confirmed that a Liberia-flagged, Israeli-owned tanker sailing southwest of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, had reported an explosion nearby.
The crew was unharmed, and the ship continued its voyage. Ambrey assessed that the vessel aligned with “the profile of targets” typically designated by Yemen’s Ansarallah, noting its publicly known Israeli ownership.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni Armed Forces leadership escalated their warnings in the wake of last Thursday’s Israeli airstrike on Sanaa, which killed Prime Minister Ahmad Ghalib al-Rahawi along with several cabinet ministers.
🇮🇱🇾🇪⚡- Shin Bet has increased security measures around Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant following the assassinations of senior Houthi (Ansarallah) officials in Sanaa, Yemen. pic.twitter.com/bGbmeE1pPT
— Monitor𝕏 (@MonitorX99800) August 31, 2025
The attack, which struck residential neighborhoods in the capital, sparked widespread outrage and mass funeral processions in Sanaa on Monday, with thousands gathering at al-Sabeen Square before the burial ceremonies at al-Shaab Mosque.
Among those killed were Information Minister Hashim Sharaf al-Din, Justice and Human Rights Minister Judge Mujahid Ahmad Abdullah, Economy and Industry Minister Moeen al-Mahaqri, Electricity and Energy Minister Ali Saif Hassan al-Samie, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Radwan al-Rubaie, Social Affairs and Labor Minister Samir Ba Jalala, Youth and Sports Minister Mohammad al-Muwallad, Foreign Minister Jamal Amer, Culture and Tourism Minister Ali al-Yafei, and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Mohammad Qasim al-Kubsi.
Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces, Major General Mohammed al-Ghamari, directly addressed Israel, declaring: “By committing this heinous crime, you have opened the gates of hell upon yourselves.” He warned that Yemen’s response would be “harsh and painful,” stressing that effective strategic military options are already under consideration.
Acting Prime Minister Mohammad Muftah, speaking during the funeral, reaffirmed Yemen’s unwavering support for Palestine and Gaza, describing the fallen officials as fully aware of the sacrifices required. He insisted that state institutions remain intact despite the assassinations, noting that reforms and economic resilience had already strengthened Yemen’s governance structures.
“The blood of the martyrs gives us motivation and determination,” Muftah said. “The enemy targeted the ports to choke Yemen, but they failed. The ports are operating, and no crisis has occurred.”
(PC, Al Mayadeen)
