Red Sea Oil Shipments at Risk After Houthi Attacks on Saudi Tankers

Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthi militants said Thursday they struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, opening a new potential chokepoint for global energy supplies. The attacks threaten a key maritime route that Saudi Arabia has been using to bypass the increasingly volatile Strait of Hormuz.

Details of the Attack

The Houthis identified the targeted vessels as the *Encelia* and the *Layla*. According to a report from the Saudi state news agency SPA, an official source confirmed the *Encelia* was struck, resulting in a fire at the vessel's bow. A maritime security source added that the *Encelia* transmitted a distress call after being hit by a missile near the Saudi port of Jizan. The alleged attack on the *Layla* remains unconfirmed.

The incident is part of a self-declared naval blockade against Saudi Arabia announced by the Yemen-based group on Monday. This move is seen by analysts as an attempt by Iran to exert further pressure on global oil markets.

Market Impact and Shipping Disruptions

The attacks immediately impacted shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint at the southern end of the Red Sea. In response to the heightened risk:

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• Five tankers reportedly changed course on Wednesday to avoid the strait.
• Three tankers loaded with Saudi crude bound for China and India made U-turns on Tuesday.

This development is particularly significant as Saudi Arabia has been routing millions of barrels of oil per day to its Red Sea port of Yanbu specifically to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. If the Bab el-Mandeb becomes impassable, tankers would face a much longer and costlier journey north through the Suez Canal. As of Thursday, two Chinese very large crude carriers (VLCCs) carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi oil were still heading toward the strait, according to shipping data.

Broader Geopolitical Context

These attacks in the Red Sea occur amid a wider, escalating conflict between the United States and Iran. The U.S. military confirmed its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran on Wednesday, as directed by President Donald Trump. Iran, meanwhile, has nearly closed the Strait of Hormuz, a separate vital waterway for oil exports, and has threatened to target regional energy infrastructure.

The Houthi action effectively opens a second maritime front, straining military resources and compounding the risk premium on oil prices. The near-total blockade of Hormuz has already contributed to global inflation and higher fuel costs, and the new threat in the Red Sea is poised to exacerbate those pressures.