Houthi Rebels Claim Attacks on Two Saudi Oil Tankers Amid Escalating Maritime Blockade

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said on Wednesday that they attacked two Saudi oil tankers, continuing their campaign to disrupt the kingdom's oil exports. The group described the incidents as part of an ongoing maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia.

According to Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, the first attack struck the Saudi tanker Wafa in the northern Red Sea, off the coast of Yanbu, using ballistic missiles. In a separate statement, he said the rebel group also targeted the tanker Daisy in the Gulf of Aden, a waterway that connects to the Red Sea.

The Houthis said these were the eighth and ninth Saudi oil tankers to be targeted since the blockade was imposed last month. Saudi authorities had not issued an immediate response to the claims at the time of reporting.

The rebel group declared that it would intensify attacks in the northern Red Sea, alleging that Saudi Arabia has been rerouting its oil tankers through that corridor to avoid the blockade in the south. Saree said the Houthis would escalate operations to "close all access points and prevent their passage."

The blockade comes at a time when Saudi Arabia's oil export routes are under severe strain. Iran has separately closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for Gulf oil exports, leaving the Red Sea route via the Bab al-Mandeb Strait as a key alternative for Saudi crude.

Data from maritime analytics firm Kpler indicates a dramatic shift in Saudi oil flows. Seaborne crude exports through the Bab al-Mandeb strait surged eightfold between March and mid-July 2026, compared with the same period in 2025. In June 2026, nearly 100 million barrels of Saudi crude passed through the strait, up from seven million barrels in February. In April and May, all of Saudi Arabia's seaborne crude exports departed from the port of Yanbu.

The Houthi attacks heighten the risk to international shipping in one of the world's most vital maritime lanes. The Red Sea route connects to the Suez Canal, a major artery for global trade, and any sustained disruption could have far-reaching implications for energy markets and international commerce.

While the Houthis have not provided independent verification of their strikes, the pattern of attacks matches their stated strategy to pressure Saudi Arabia. The conflict in Yemen, which began in 2014, has drawn in regional powers and created a complex web of proxy rivalries. The Houthi blockade adds a new dimension to the crisis, raising concerns about the safety of commercial vessels and the stability of global oil supplies.

Analysts note that the situation remains fluid, and the full extent of the damage to the tankers or possible casualties has not been confirmed. Maritime security agencies are likely to advise caution for vessels operating in the affected areas.

For now, the Houthi announcements underscore the fragility of maritime trade routes in the region. The international community, which has repeatedly called for de-escalation, now watches closely as the economic and security repercussions of this blockade potentially unfold.