Houthis Target Eighth Saudi Oil Tanker Amid Escalating Maritime Blockade
The Houthi rebels in Yemen claim to have successfully targeted an eighth Saudi oil tanker, the Wafa, off the coast of Yanbu in the Red Sea. The attack was carried out with ballistic missiles as part of their declared maritime blockade of the kingdom.
The group's military spokesman, Yahya Saree, stated that they will escalate attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the northern Red Sea to prevent them from passing through. This move is a response to Saudi Arabia diverting its oil tankers towards this route after being forced to do so by the Houthi blockade.
The Houthi blockade has already had a significant impact on Saudi Arabia's ability to transport oil, with Iran's parallel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz cutting off the kingdom's other maritime route. The Red Sea has become a crucial transit point for crude, with the Bab al-Mandeb Strait connecting it to the Indian Ocean and, via the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean.
Saudi seaborne crude exports have surged significantly since March, with nearly 100 million barrels being exported in June alone. This is an eightfold increase compared to the same period in 2025.