Houthi Attacks Threaten to Sinking Gulf Nations' Workarounds
The Houthi militant group in Yemen, backed by Iran, has resumed attacks on vessels in the Red Sea after a nine-month pause. On July 22, 2026, they directly targeted Saudi Arabia, their longtime foe.
A week later, a floating liquefied natural gas storage facility in Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta was struck by suspected Iranian drones, causing a fire that spread to a nearby tanker.
This marks a significant escalation and expansion of the zone of risk for shipping. The incidents have put at risk Saudi Arabia's strategy of redirecting oil exports away from the Strait of Hormuz through its western ports.
The Houthi announcement of a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia amounts to the most serious escalation of Saudi-Houthi tensions since a tenuous ceasefire ended Yemen's civil war in 2022.