Houthis Escalate Attacks on Saudi Oil Tankers in Northern Red Sea

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed to have attacked two Saudi oil tankers, the Wafa and Daisy, using ballistic missiles. According to Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, the group successfully targeted the Wafa in the northern Red Sea off the coast of Yanbu.

The attack is part of an escalating campaign by the Houthis against Saudi oil tankers, which have been diverted from the south due to the Houthi blockade. Saree stated that the group will now target all access points and prevent passage through the northern Red Sea in response to this diversion.

Saudi Arabia's reliance on seaborne crude exports has increased significantly since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, with the Bab al-Mandeb Strait becoming a crucial transit route for crude. According to Kpler data, Saudi seaborne crude exports via the Bab al-Mandeb Strait surged eightfold between March and mid-July 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.

The Houthi blockade has pushed Saudi Arabia to divert its oil tankers towards the northern Red Sea, which is now a primary exit point for Saudi oil. With Iran's closure of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait has become a critical route for crude exports, with nearly 100 million barrels of seaborne crude exports passing through it in June alone.