Houthis Strike Saudi Oil Tanker in Red Sea, Escalating Tensions
The Houthi group in Yemen has made its first maritime attack since September 2025 by striking a Saudi-owned oil tanker, the Encelia, in the Red Sea. According to Sherwan Hindreen Ali, Middle East Research Manager at ACLED, the Houthis claimed that the ship violated their announced blockade on Saudi ships and ports. The group fired missiles and drones at the tanker on July 22.
The attack is a significant escalation in the Red Sea crisis and Houthi-Saudi relations. The Houthis appear committed to upholding their blockade, and Saudi Arabia may respond militarily in the coming days. However, the group has left some room for de-escalation by allowing two China-bound ships carrying Saudi crude to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb strait without incident on July 23.