Houthis strike two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea
Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for attacking two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, further escalating regional tensions. The incident has caused Brent crude prices to spike to $100 a barrel as the U.S. continues military strikes against Iran.
Why it matters
The disruption of critical oil trade routes threatens global energy security and risks a wider military conflict in the Middle East.
A student holds up a Yemeni flag during a parade at Sanaa University campus to show support for the Houthis in Sanaa, Yemen, Wednesday. Khaled Abdullah/Reuters
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday, potentially widening the Iran war as international oil topped US$100 a barrel.
The Houthis have threatened to shut down another key trade route, with the world economy already reeling from Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and the U.S. have meanwhile stepped up their attacks as they vie for control of the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas transited in peacetime, setting off a scramble for alternative routes.
As the U.S. carried out a 12th night of strikes across Iran, President Donald Trump threatened “major military punishment” against the Houthis if their attacks on ships continue.
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