Houthis Escalate Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Considers Military Options

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia and its maritime vessels in the Red Sea, prompting Riyadh to evaluate military options.

In mid-July, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia, citing the kingdom's restrictions on air travel and maritime trade to Yemen as justification. However, the blockade has been met with resistance from Saudi Arabia, which claims it is legitimate under international law.

On August 5, Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced an operation targeting a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, near Yanbu. The kingdom's Red Sea energy export hub processes around 4 million barrels per day (bpd). While Riyadh has not confirmed the attack, UKMTO reported an incident involving a tanker hearing a loud explosion in close proximity to the vessel.

The Houthis have also claimed attacks on multiple Saudi-linked vessels transiting the Red Sea, including three tankers in July. On August 4, Saree announced that the group had attacked Najran Airport in southern Saudi Arabia, citing the kingdom's use of drones to target Houthi-controlled areas.