Houthis Claim Strikes On Two Saudi Oil Tankers In First Attack Since Red Sea Blockade
Houthis Claim Strikes On Two Saudi Oil Tankers In First Attack Since Red Sea Blockade Published By, Last Updated: July 23, 2026, 04:30 IST Houthis
Houthis Claim Strikes On Two Saudi Oil Tankers In First Attack Since Red Sea Blockade Published By, Last Updated: July 23, 2026, 04:30 IST Houthis said the attack took place near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and involved ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. The Houthi attacks disrupted international commerce, forcing international shipping to take the long route around South Africa to avoid being struck. (AFP file) Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday claimed responsibility for strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, marking their first maritime strike since announcing a blockade on Saudi-linked shipping earlier this week. Houthis said the attack took place near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and involved ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, claiming both tankers caught fire following the strikes.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the Iran-aligned Houthis said they had carried out a “qualitative military operation" against the tankers Encelia and Layla, accusing the vessels of violating the group’s newly imposed embargo on ships travelling to and from Saudi ports. First strike under new maritime embargo The attack marks the first confirmed maritime action since the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia on Monday. The group said the move was in response to an attack on Sanaa International Airport earlier this month, which it blamed on Riyadh.. The group claimed around 10 ships had already turned back because of the blockade and vowed to continue enforcing what it called a policy of “siege with siege".
News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered What are the broader implications of this Red Sea blockade? The broader implications of the Red Sea blockade include increased risk to global energy supplies and trade routes. How might this impact global oil prices and shipping routes? The Houthis claimed strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, marking their first maritime attack since announcing a blockade on Saudi-linked shipping. This action threatens to disrupt oil flows representing nearly 7% of global production. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad.
From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers,... Read More Location: Yemen First Published: July 23, 2026, 04:11 IST News world Houthis Claim Strikes On Two Saudi Oil Tankers In First Attack Since Red Sea Blockade Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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