Updated

Yemen's Houthis said they targeted a Saudi oil vessel in the Gulf of Aden, according to their military spokesperson on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia did not confirm the strike, but UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that crew on a vessel in the same area heard a loud explosion nearby. The incidents add to rising risk assessments for tankers transiting waters off Yemen, with insurers and shipping firms weighing route changes. Separately, UKMTO said early on Thursday that a tanker nine nautical miles southeast of Oman's Kumzar reported hearing two explosions while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. The vessel and crew were reported safe, with no environmental damage indicated. The reports underscore widening maritime security concerns across both the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Hormuz.