Houthis Claim Attack on Saudi Oil Tanker Near Yanbu in Red Sea

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group announced on Wednesday that it had carried out an attack on a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea near the Saudi port city of Yanbu. The group said the incident was part of its declared maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia.

According to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, the Saudi oil tanker "Wafa" was successfully targeted in the northern Red Sea using several ballistic missiles. Saree made the announcement in a recorded video statement.

Eighth Saudi Oil Tanker Targeted Since July 22

The Houthis stated that the Wafa was the eighth Saudi oil tanker they have targeted since launching their maritime blockade on July 22.

Saree said the group has been monitoring Saudi oil shipments and claimed that Saudi Arabia had changed its shipping routes by sending oil tankers through the northern Red Sea.

Houthis Vow to Increase Attacks

The Houthi spokesperson said the group would intensify its operations in the northern Red Sea. According to Saree, the decision followed Saudi Arabia's move to divert its oil tankers to the area after the blockade affected routes in the south.

He stated that the Houthis aim to target Saudi oil tankers in the northern Red Sea in an effort to block all access points and prevent their passage.

Red Sea Route Gains Importance After Hormuz Closure

The Houthis said their blockade comes as Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has increased the importance of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea export route.

With Hormuz closed, the Saudi port of Yanbu has become the kingdom's main outlet for exporting oil by sea. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean and provides access to the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean, has become a key shipping corridor for Saudi crude exports.

Saudi Oil Shipments Through Bab al-Mandeb Increased Sharply

According to data from maritime tracking company Kpler, Saudi Arabia's seaborne crude exports passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait increased eightfold between March and mid-July 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.

The data also showed that exports through the route reached nearly 100 million barrels in June, compared with 7 million barrels in February.

Kpler further reported that all of Saudi Arabia's seaborne crude exports departed from Yanbu port during April and May, highlighting the growing importance of the Red Sea export route.