Houthis hit Saudi ship in Red Sea as Iran war escalates
Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for attacking Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, marking a significant escalation in regional conflict. The incident follows ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, threatening global oil supply routes.
Why it matters
Disruptions in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz pose a direct threat to global energy security and oil prices.
A Saudi vessel was attacked in the Red Sea as Tehran-backed Houthis claimed to strike tankers in the waterway, Riyadh’s state media said on Thursday, signalling a potential new front in the US-Iran conflict.
The Houthis had threatened to blockade Saudi ports on the Red Sea – a key route for oil shipments – while the five-month war had already led to the effective closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Washington and Tehran have been battling over key crude supply route Hormuz, which led to the collapse of a preliminary deal aimed at ending the war that has sent global oil prices climbing.
The Houthis’ claim came as the US launched fresh strikes on Iranian military targets, prompting retaliatory attacks on US ally Kuwait in the latest round of tit-for-tat fighting.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in