Yemen's Houthis attack Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea, enforce blockade

Yemen's Houthi rebels, allied with Iran, announced they have attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea using missiles and drones. This action fulfills their threat to impose a naval blockade on Saudi vessels in the vital waterway, which began Monday.

The Saudi official news agency SPA confirmed that one of the Saudi-owned ships, the Encelia, caught fire after being struck in the Red Sea. The ship's crew reported being hit by a missile in their distress call. Saudi authorities have not yet confirmed if the second vessel, identified as Layla, was also targeted.

These attacks represent a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict, particularly between Iran and the United States. The conflict has already led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which previously handled 20% of global oil transit. Now, the Red Sea and the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait, through which about 10% of the world's crude oil passes, face potential disruption.

The Saudi agency condemned the attack as a violation of international laws protecting merchant vessels and their crews. Following the news, Brent crude oil prices surged over 2%, exceeding $96 per barrel. This rise occurred just before European stock markets opened and a week after the U.S. and Iran reportedly paused their conflict.

Amidst these rising tensions, Iran and the U.S. continue their mutual attacks. The U.S. military announced further strikes against Iran, while Tehran claims to have targeted U.S. missile systems and military posts in Jordan and Kuwait. The Houthi rebels control the coastal region of Yemen.

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The attack constitutes a violation of the laws and norms that guarantee the safety of merchant ships and their crews.