Houthi missile strikes Saudi tanker in Red Sea, fire

A major Saudi oil tanker was struck by a missile and caught fire in the Red Sea on July 22, as Yemen's Houthi movement launched its first maritime attacks since declaring a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia earlier in the week. The incident, which Saudi authorities confirmed, marks a dangerous escalation that threatens to open a second global oil shipping chokepoint amid an ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.

The Houthis, an Iran-aligned group that controls northern Yemen, claimed responsibility for attacking two Saudi tankers, the Encelia and the Layla, using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. Saudi Arabia's state news agency reported that an assault caused a fire on the bow of the Encelia but that all crew members were safe. The attack occurred approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Saudi Arabia's Al Shuqaiq, according to maritime security reports. The status of the second vessel, the Layla, remained unconfirmed.

The Houthis framed the strikes as enforcement of a naval embargo announced on July 20, which warned shipping companies that vessels loading or discharging cargo at Saudi ports could be targeted. The group stated the blockade was retaliation for what it...