Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they had attacked what they described as a Saudi military ship and four escort vessels in the Red Sea with missiles, according to a statement by the group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree on Telegram.
“The attack was carried out using several ballistic missiles, and the strikes were accurate and direct," the statement read.
"The operation resulted in the Saudi warship catching fire completely; several of the boats escorting it sank, while the others caught fire. The armed forces continue to establish the equation of blockade for blockade and to attack all Saudi military concentrations.”
There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities on the attack.
Houthi attacks on 'Saudi-backed forces' in Mocha
Yemen's Mocha port, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea has suspended commercial and maritime operations after being hit by more than 25 missiles in Houthi attacks over recent days, the port's director said on Saturday.
The attacks killed seven people and caused an estimated $16 million in losses, the director told a news conference.
Forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognized government control the port. It has a smaller cargo capacity than Yemen's main ports of Aden and Hodeidah.
Yemen's government said on Friday the Houthis fired six ballistic missiles at Mocha that day, killing at least four civilians and targeting civilian, economic, and maritime facilities.
Following the attacks, the Houthis said they targeted a military build-up of weapons and warships belonging to Saudi-backed forces in Mocha.