Houthis Hit 2 Saudi Vessels, Turn Back 10 More in Red Sea
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 23
Houthis Hit 2 Saudi Vessels, Turn Back 10 More in Red Sea
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 23
Summary
Two Saudi vessels were struck by missiles this week, and Houthi fighters said their warnings forced 10 more ships to turn back from the Bab El Mandeb Strait.
The disruption threatens Saudi exports rerouted through the Red Sea after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, adding another choke point for oil and wider trade between Europe and Asia.
The attacks signal a breakdown of the 2022 Houthi-Saudi ceasefire and widen a conflict already intensified by 12 straight nights of US strikes on Iranian coastal military sites.
Analysts warn that if Bab El Mandeb remains unsafe alongside Hormuz, pressure on global supply chains, energy flows and prices will deepen, prolonging regional instability.
With military strikes failing, what new strategy can secure vital shipping lanes from determined rebel groups?
How will the global economy adapt as attacks expand from oil tankers to the internet's undersea cables?
Houthi Naval Blockade Threatens Global Oil Markets and Red Sea Shipping: July 2026 Escalation
Overview
On July 21, 2026, the Houthis threatened a naval blockade in the Red Sea, specifically targeting Saudi shipping. This immediately escalated regional tensions and caused volatility in the global oil market. The Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow but vital waterway for much of the world’s oil and gas shipments, is at the center of this crisis. Any disruption here poses a direct threat to global energy security and trade flows. If the blockade continues, shipping companies may be forced to use longer, more expensive routes, increasing costs and impacting international trade and energy markets.