Another Tanker Hit in Hormuz Strait; Houthis Threaten Saudi Blockade

A tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, as fresh hostilities emptied the key waterway. At the same time, Houthi rebels threatened to blockade Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, raising new risks for global shipping. The strike is the latest in a series of incidents targeting vessels in the narrow strait, a vital passage for about one-fifth of the world’s oil. The attackers’ identity remains unclear, but the attack follows a pattern of escalating maritime violence in the region. In a separate development, Yemen’s Houthi group warned it would block Saudi ports in the Red Sea. The threat adds to existing dangers for commercial ships, which now face potential attacks in two major chokepoints: the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Both waterways are critical for energy and trade routes. Any sustained disruption could push up shipping costs and delay deliveries of oil and goods worldwide.