Houthis Hit 2 Saudi Oil Tankers, Threatening 10% Trade Route in Red Sea
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 23
Houthis Hit 2 Saudi Oil Tankers, Threatening 10% Trade Route in Red Sea
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 23
Summary
Two Saudi oil tankers were struck in the Red Sea on Wednesday as the Houthis said they had begun enforcing a new maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia.
The move targets Riyadh's western export route through Bab el-Mandeb, an 18-mile chokepoint carrying about 10% to 12% of global maritime trade and now more important as Hormuz shipping is disrupted.
Traffic was already falling before the attack: Kpler said Bab el-Mandeb transits dropped to 29 on Tuesday, down 34% from Monday, after shipowners received Houthi warnings against calling at Saudi ports.
Trump said the U.S. would hold Iran responsible and threatened major military punishment, while Saudi Arabia said it would protect its ships and analysts predicted possible Saudi airstrikes on Houthi launch sites and naval assets.
Analysts said the escalation opens a new Yemen front in the U.S.-Iran war, giving Tehran and the Houthis leverage to raise global shipping and oil costs if both Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz come under sustained pressure.
With military strikes failing, what new strategy can secure vital shipping lanes from determined rebel groups?
How will the global economy adapt as attacks expand from oil tankers to the internet's undersea cables?
Houthi Naval Blockade Threatens Global Oil Markets and Red Sea Shipping: July 2026 Escalation
Overview
On July 21, 2026, the Houthis threatened a naval blockade in the Red Sea, specifically targeting Saudi shipping. This immediately escalated regional tensions and caused volatility in the global oil market. The Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow but vital waterway for much of the world’s oil and gas shipments, is at the center of this crisis. Any disruption here poses a direct threat to global energy security and trade flows. If the blockade continues, shipping companies may be forced to use longer, more expensive routes, increasing costs and impacting international trade and energy markets.