Houthis Strike Saudi Oil Tankers, Oil Prices Surge
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Part of composite article Oil Tankers Flee Red Sea, Deliveries Delayed a Month After Houthi Attacks View full article →
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday. It is their first reported strike on a vessel since they announced a blockade of Saudi-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this week.
The Houthis say the attack is retaliation for Saudi Arabia’s blockade on Yemen and a recent strike on Sanaa’s international airport.
The escalation adds pressure on global shipping. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and Brent crude oil prices have hit their highest level since May.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a narrow waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. It is a critical route for oil tankers heading to Europe and North America.