Houthis Strike 2 Saudi Oil Tankers in Red Sea as Blockade Threatens 25% of Global Supply
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 22
Houthis Strike 2 Saudi Oil Tankers in Red Sea as Blockade Threatens 25% of Global Supply
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 22
Summary
Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group hit Saudi tankers ENCELA and LAYLIA with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, setting both ships on fire in the Red Sea.
UKMTO separately said a tanker master reported an unknown projectile strike that caused a fire onboard, while the Houthis said nearly 10 ships had turned back after violating their July 20 maritime blockade.
The blockade was imposed after the Yemeni government bombed Sanaa airport to stop an Iranian plane from landing, with the Houthis framing the embargo as retaliation against what they call a long Saudi siege.
The attack deepens pressure on Saudi efforts to reroute oil through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb as Hormuz remains disrupted by the US-Israel war on Iran.
Bab al-Mandeb carried about 4.1 billion barrels of crude and fuels in 2024—roughly 5% of global supply—and closure alongside Hormuz could choke off 25% of world oil and gas flows.
Can releasing strategic oil reserves prevent a global recession as Middle East waterways are choked off?
With oil tankers burning, could the unseen internet cables at the bottom of the sea be the next target?
As two critical sea lanes face blockade, is a global supply chain collapse the next domino to fall?
Houthi Blockade of 2026: Economic, Geopolitical, and Humanitarian Fallout in the Red Sea
Overview
On July 20, 2026, the Houthi rebels declared a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, immediately raising concerns about the security of vital shipping lanes and the risk of widespread disruption to global trade and energy supplies. The blockade specifically threatens Saudi Arabia’s exports to Asia, potentially forcing costly rerouting and delays. This action triggered significant economic repercussions, making the Red Sea a major geopolitical flashpoint and fueling fears that regional conflicts could further endanger critical shipping routes and energy flows. Any sustained disruption could have far-reaching economic consequences, highlighting the fragile stability of global supply chains.