Houthi Attack on Saudi Tankers Opens New Front as US Strikes Iran for 12th Night
Yemen's Houthis struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, threatening a second maritime chokepoint as the US air campaign on Iran continues and crude prices near $100.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement struck two Saudi-flagged oil tankers in the Red Sea with missiles and drones on Wednesday night, the first attacks since it declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. Saudi state media confirmed the Encelia was hit and caught fire, with no casualties; the second vessel, Layla, remained unconfirmed. The assault coincided with the twelfth consecutive night of US air strikes on Iranian military targets, including maritime and missile storage sites. Brent crude surged above $98 a barrel, nearing $100, as the conflict threatened to close both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb, the two most critical chokepoints for global energy shipments.
The Houthis said the tankers had violated a blockade imposed in retaliation for a Saudi strike on Sanaa airport and the kingdom’s years-long siege of Yemen. US Central Command stated its strikes aimed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners.” President Trump warned that any Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz would trigger the destruction of a bridge or power plant. Iran’s military command responded that it would target regional oil, gas and electricity infrastructure and prevent any oil exports if its own infrastructure were hit. Iranian state media also reported Revolutionary Guard strikes on US bases in Kuwait and asserted that the Strait of Hormuz remained “completely closed” without Iranian coordination.
The Red Sea front compounds the disruption that began in February when the US and Israel launched operations against Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil and gas trade once passed, has been largely shut since March, with Iran attacking vessels and the US blockading Iranian ports. Saudi Arabia had redirected over 70 per cent of its crude exports via pipeline to the Red Sea to bypass Hormuz, but the Houthi blockade now threatens that alternative. Shipping data showed tankers rerouting, and two Chinese supertankers carrying Saudi oil were heading toward the Bab el-Mandeb. Analysts in London view the Houthi move as a tactical extension of Iranian pressure, designed to strain US military resources and force Saudi concessions. Diplomatically, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran was “begging” for a deal but had not accepted terms, while Trump predicted Tehran would “be ready very soon.” No new talks have been announced, and both sides signal that military operations will continue, with energy markets bracing for sustained volatility.
| Indian & South Asian press | 0.00 | neutral |
|---|---|---|
| Israeli press | −0.10 | neutral |
| Sub-Saharan African press | −0.50 | critical |
India and South Asia record the events with detachment, giving space to both narratives.
Including Iran's counter-claim of hitting US bases in Kuwait alongside the US strikes creates an impression of balanced reporting, implying that both sides are engaged in mutual escalation.
Does not mention civilian casualties from US strikes, which are reported by sub-Saharan African press.
Israel warns that the Houthi attack creates a new oil chokepoint, expanding the threat to global security.
By framing the Houthi attack as a new chokepoint alongside the Strait of Hormuz, the bloc elevates the strategic stakes, making the conflict appear as a direct threat to global energy supplies and justifying a more aggressive response.
Does not mention casualties from US strikes or Iran's claim of hitting bases in Kuwait, focusing only on the oil threat.
Sub-Saharan Africa denounces the human cost of US strikes, highlighting civilian casualties and questioning military justifications.
By reporting the number of killed and wounded from US strikes, the bloc shifts the focus from strategic narratives to human suffering, undermining the legitimacy of the US campaign.
Does not mention the strategic oil threat or Iran's claim, focusing only on the human consequences of US strikes.
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