Jizan, Saudi Arabia. The Iranian-aligned Houthis said they struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea as part of a declared naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, raising concerns over a further disruption to global oil shipping routes.
Saudi state news agency SPA said the tanker Encelia was struck and caught fire at its bow, while an alleged attack on the Layla had not been confirmed.
Reported tanker attacks
The Yemen-based Houthis said their forces used missiles and drones to target the Encelia and the Layla. A maritime security source said the Encelia transmitted a distress call late on Wednesday, reporting that it had been hit by a missile near Jizan.
The Houthis, who control areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, announced on Monday that they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. The strait is located at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, opposite the Strait of Hormuz at the other end of the Arabian Peninsula.
Shipping disruptions
Five tankers changed course in the Red Sea on Wednesday to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, while three tankers carrying Saudi oil to China and India made U-turns on Tuesday.
Shipping data showed that two Chinese very large crude carriers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil were heading toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia has been directing millions of barrels of oil per day to its Red Sea port of Yanbu to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. If vessels cannot use the Red Sea’s southern passage, they would have to take the northern route through the Suez Canal, adding time and costs to voyages.
Wider conflict concerns
The Houthi threat could widen the conflict and place further strain on the U.S. military, according to current and former U.S. officials.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday that it had launched a new round of strikes on Iran at President Donald Trump’s direction, marking the 12th consecutive night of American attacks. Iran’s near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed up oil prices and contributed to inflation pressures, including higher gasoline costs for U.S. consumers.
