Sanaa, July 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Yemen’s Houthi movement on Sunday claimed it had shot down a Saudi-operated reconnaissance drone over the northern province of Al-Jawf, while a separate maritime security incident involving a commercial tanker was reported in the southern Red Sea, adding to concerns over regional stability.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said on social media platform X that the drone was brought down using what he described as “appropriate weaponry” while carrying out “hostile operations” over Al-Jawf province. No additional operational details were provided, and the claim could not be independently verified.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker navigating the southern Red Sea near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait observed the splash of an unidentified projectile close to the vessel. According to UKMTO, the ship and its crew remained safe, and no damage or injuries were reported.
The developments follow the Houthis’ recent announcement of a maritime ban targeting Saudi-linked shipping and their claims of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Those incidents prompted renewed airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
On Saturday, Yemen’s state-run television reported coalition airstrikes on Houthi military positions in northern Yemen. In response, the Houthis claimed they had launched coordinated missile and drone attacks on energy facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Jizan and Yanbu regions.
Yemen has remained embroiled in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized control of large parts of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.
Although a United Nations-mediated truce expired in 2022, a fragile de facto ceasefire has largely remained in place. However, the latest exchanges have renewed concerns over security in the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
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