Houthis Claim Strikes on Saudi Oil Tankers in Red Sea Blockade

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Monday, part of an announced naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. The attacks near the Bab el-Mandeb strait have sent shockwaves through global oil markets, forcing several tankers to alter course and raising fears of a second chokepoint on oil shipments from the Middle East.

The Blockade and Its Immediate Impact

The Houthi movement, which controls large areas of Yemen including coastal territory along the Bab el-Mandeb, said it was imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. The militants claim to have hit two Saudi oil tankers with missiles and drones, though independent verification remains difficult. The escalation came amid heightened tensions in the region, with analysts viewing the Houthi action as a tactical move by Iran to gain leverage in any diplomatic efforts to end the Yemen war.

Shipping data shows that at least five tankers changed course in the Red Sea to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Wednesday, and three tankers loaded with Saudi oil destined for China and India made U-turns on Tuesday, according to Reuters. The diversions reflect growing fears among shippers that the Houthis might target vessels passing through the narrow strait.

Global Oil Supply at Risk

The Red Sea's Bab el-Mandeb strait is a critical maritime corridor for oil and goods moving between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Millions of barrels per day of Saudi oil have been routed to the kingdom's Red Sea port of Yanbu to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has been exerting pressure. If shipments cannot pass through Bab el-Mandeb, they would be forced to take the longer northern route through the Suez Canal, adding weeks to journey times and significantly raising shipping costs.

Even before the renewed threats in the Red Sea, Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz had driven up oil and petrol prices globally and stoked inflation. The Houthi blockade threatens to compound that disruption by closing off the alternative route via Yanbu, effectively squeezing global supply from both ends of the Arabian Peninsula.

Strategic Coordination with Iran

The Houthi action appears coordinated with Iran's broader strategy to control key maritime chokepoints. Iran has long threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes. By also threatening the Bab el-Mandeb, Iran and its proxies can exert pressure on Saudi Arabia and its allies on two fronts. Analysts suggest this dual blockade is designed to give Tehran negotiating leverage in any settlement of the Yemen conflict or broader regional diplomacy.

For Saudi Arabia, the threat is immediate: its oil exports to Asia via the Red Sea are now at risk. The kingdom has invested heavily in the Yanbu port and pipeline infrastructure to bypass Hormuz, but that investment is undermined if the Houthis can interdict shipping there.

What Comes Next

The situation remains fluid. The Houthis have shown they can strike ships despite a Saudi-led coalition's air campaign, which has been bombing Yemen for years. International naval forces may need to step up patrols in the Red Sea, but that risks direct confrontation with the Houthis and their Iranian backers. Meanwhile, insurance rates for vessels transiting the area are likely to spike, and more shippers may opt for longer, safer routes. The coming days will reveal whether the Houthi blockade is a one-off provocation or the start of a sustained campaign that could further roil global energy markets.