The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Thursday that they had carried out a missile and drone operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, saying the vessels had violated Yemen's declared maritime embargo.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said the operation targeted the Saudi oil tankers ENCELIA and LAYLA using a combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones.

According to a statement delivered by Saree and reported by Yemeni media, the operation achieved its objectives, with the targeted vessels sustaining direct hits that sparked a fire.

"We carried out a high-quality military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers, ENCELIA and LAYLA, which violated the maritime embargo in the Red Sea," Saree said.

He added that the coordinated strike involved "a number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones," describing the attack as accurate and successful.

Saree further stated that the operation prompted approximately 10 ships to reverse course and withdraw from the area, saying the action demonstrated the effectiveness of Yemen's maritime measures.

"The naval operations against the Saudi enemy will continue to implement the principle of an eye for an eye," he said.

The Yemeni military spokesman also warned that any further military action against Yemen would be met with a strong response.

"We emphasize to the Saudi enemy that we will respond to any foolish action or aggression targeting our country with a massive operation deep inside its territory," Saree said.

The announcement comes amid ongoing regional tensions in the Red Sea, where Yemeni forces have repeatedly declared that they will continue military and naval operations against vessels they accuse of violating their maritime restrictions. The Yemeni leadership maintains that such operations are carried out in defense of the country's sovereignty and as part of its broader military strategy in response to what it describes as continued aggression. (ILKHA)