Yemen’s Houthis on Thursday said it has carried out attack on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, signalling of enforcing a maritime embargo on its northern neighbour as regional tensions threaten another key global shipping route.
The Saudi state media confirmed that a vessel had been targeted in the Red Sea and that the attack caused a fire onboard, while all crew members remained safe. The incident came after the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, claimed responsibility for strikes on Saudi-linked shipping.
The group has accused Saudi Arabia of imposing a blockade on areas of Yemen controlled by the rebels, saying the alleged restrictions justified its own maritime actions against Saudi interests.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group would “continue their naval operations” against Saudi Arabia and “persist in enforcing a ‘siege for a siege’ equation.”
The escalation has raised concerns over the security of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a crucial waterway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and one of the world’s most important routes for energy and commercial shipping.
A satellite image from NASA appeared to show the Saudi-flagged tanker Encelia (IMO: 9240172) on fire in the Red Sea after the Houthis claimed they had struck two Saudi oil tankers. Analysis of shipping data showed a new thermal signal at the location where the vessel was transmitting its Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal, CNN reported.
Saudi Arabia’s State News Agency reported that the tanker was “targeted while sailing in the Red Sea”, causing “a fire on the vessel’s bow”. It added that “all crew members are safe”.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker had been hit by an “unknown projectile” around 70 nautical miles southwest of the Saudi coastal town of Al Shuqaiq, causing a fire onboard. Although UKMTO did not identify the ship, the location matched the position associated with the Encelia in shipping data.
Meanwhile, two Chinese supertankers carrying around four million barrels of Saudi crude oil are heading towards the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to exit the Red Sea, according to shipping data.The vessels include the Singapore-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC) Xin Long Yang, which paused its journey in the Red Sea on Tuesday before resuming its southbound voyage towards Qinzhou, China. The other tanker, the China-flagged Cosnew Lake, is sailing towards Huizhou in Guangdong province. Their transit is expected to test how strictly the Houthis enforce the naval blockade they have announced against Saudi-linked vessels.
The developments come as regional powers seek to prevent further escalation.Meanwhile, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on regional tensions and efforts to protect maritime security.
“The two ministers discussed regional developments, the efforts being made to de-escalate tensions and ensure freedom of maritime navigation in the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea,” the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
They also discussed “coordination and consultation regarding diplomatic efforts aimed at enhancing security and stability in the region”, the statement added.
The Red Sea has become increasingly vulnerable as shipping companies already face disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, another major energy route, amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States.
The possibility of simultaneous disruption in Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb has heightened fears of higher energy prices, increased shipping costs and further strain on global supply chains.
