Will Houthi attacks on Saudi ships hurt India | Explained
Recent Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea have caused oil prices to spike, raising concerns about global supply chain disruptions. The conflict threatens key maritime chokepoints, potentially impacting energy costs for nations like India that rely on these shipping routes.
Why it matters
Energy security is a critical economic factor for India, and regional instability in the Middle East directly influences domestic inflation and fuel prices.
The story so far: On Thursday (July 23, 2026), oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel, the highest in nearly two months, after the Houthis in Yemen said they had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea .
The strikes, which the Houthis said were part of a “naval blockade” on Saudi Arabia, threaten to block another vital chokepoint, the Bab el-Mandeb, in the global oil trade after the Strait of Hormuz.
While Al Masirah , the official television channel run by the Houthis, said that the ships Encelia and Layla were hit early on Thursday (July 23, 2026), the Saudi Press Agency said Encelia was indeed struck, but the attack on Layla was unconfirmed. Reports said that the Houthis carried out drone and missile attacks on the two tankers. Encelia sent out an SOS saying it was hit by a missile near the Saudi port of Jizan.
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