Red Sea: Yemen's Houthi rebels say they attacked a Saudi oil tanker

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced on Wednesday that they targeted a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, off the coast of the Saudi port of Yanbu. The rebels stated this action is part of a blockade they declared against the Saudi fleet.

The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, declared in a video address that the group "successfully targeted the Saudi oil tanker 'Wafa' in the northern Red Sea, off the coast of Yanbu, with several ballistic missiles." He described this as the eighth vessel attacked since the blockade against Riyadh's fleet was announced in late July.

This Houthi campaign poses a significant threat to Saudi Arabia, the world's leading crude oil exporter, potentially disrupting its ability to ship oil to international markets. This is particularly relevant as the port of Yanbu has become a primary export point, especially after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The Bab el-Mandeb strait, at the southern end of the Red Sea, is a critical chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean and, via the Suez Canal, to the Mediterranean.

Saree indicated that the Houthi blockade has prompted Saudi Arabia to reroute its oil tankers to the northern Red Sea, where the group intends to "intensify" its attacks to prevent passage. Data from maritime tracking service Kpler shows a significant increase in Saudi crude oil exports via Bab el-Mandeb between March and mid-July 2026, reaching nearly 100 million barrels in June alone, compared to seven million in February. The conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has recently escalated, opening a new front in the broader regional tensions.