Yemen’s Houthi movement on Thursday, July 23, said its forces attacked two Saudi Arabia oil tankers in the Red Sea in support of Iran, as the United States (US) launched a 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran.
One of the tankers was hit late Wednesday, sparking a fire on board.
US president Donald Trump warned the Houthis that if they carried out another attack, the US would impose severe military retaliation against both the group and Iran.
Iranian state media reported that two people were killed in the US strikes, while Jordan and Kuwait said they intercepted missiles and drones launched by Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also said a tanker caught fire following an explosion along a mined route in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic Gulf waterway that has effectively been closed.
Oil prices surged following the latest developments, with Brent crude rising to $100 per barrel, its highest level since the end of May.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group targeted the Saudi-flagged tankers Encelia and Layla with missiles and drones, claiming that they had violated the blockade of Saudi ports announced earlier this week.
Sarea said the Houthis would continue their naval operations against what they described as the “Saudi enemy” and maintain the “siege for a siege” strategy.
The Encelia was struck while sailing through the Red Sea, causing a fire at the bow of the vessel.
Several other oil tankers operating in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have reportedly changed course since the Houthis warned ships on Monday to avoid Saudi ports. Sarea claimed the group had forced about 10 vessels to turn back.
The Houthis announced a “maritime embargo” on Saudi Arabia on Monday, saying it was in retaliation for what they described as a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled northwestern Yemen, as well as an airstrike on Sanaa airport last week, which they blamed on the kingdom.
The blockade and attacks on oil tankers risk escalating the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, while further disrupting global energy supplies and maritime trade.
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed due to Iranian attacks, Saudi Arabia has increased oil exports through its east-west pipeline to the Red Sea in recent months.
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