Houthi Tanker Attacks Raise New Red Sea Risk Questions

Two Saudi Tankers Reportedly Struck in the Red Sea

According to a report by The Maritime Executive, the Houthis have claimed strikes on two Saudi-flagged tankers in the Red Sea, escalating their stated intent to enforce a forced blockade on vessels tied to Saudi Arabia or its ports. The group’s threat, the report notes, is not confined to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden but is framed as a broader campaign.

The two vessels named are the VLCC Layla (IMO 9336098) and the 250-meter products tanker Encelia (IMO 9240172). The Layla, which had loaded cargo at Yanbu, reported fighting a fire on board, and its current location was unknown at the time of reporting. The Encelia was said to be anchored off Jizan following the alleged strike, though confirmation of any hit or damage assessment was not available.

Traffic Still Moving Through Bab el Mandeb

Despite the reported attacks, shipping traffic through the Bab el Mandeb appeared to be flowing normally as of midday on July 23. Citing a report from The National, the article notes that two Sinopec-chartered VLCCs — the Singapore-flagged Xin Long Yang (IMO 9761463) and the Hong Kong-flagged Cosnew Lake (IMO 9804289) — carrying roughly 4 million barrels of Saudi crude loaded at Yanbu for China, continued their passage through the strait, both displaying China as their destination on AIS.

International Response Remains Uncertain

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, speaking after a visit to Operation Aspides in Djibouti, acknowledged that the Red Sea situation is deteriorating again and that the missile threat to shipping persists. She indicated that the naval forces currently assigned to Aspides are inadequate for the evolving threat, and suggested that spare Coalition of the Willing capacity in the Arabian Sea could be redirected as reinforcement — though the timing and likelihood of that support remain unclear given the slow pace of EU decision-making and the possibility some member states may instead scale back involvement.

Donald Trump has stated that the United States will act if the Houthis strike shipping, which they now have, but it is uncertain how much capacity U.S. Central Command can divert from its operations against Iran to address renewed activity on the Yemeni front. Israel, meanwhile, has largely stayed out of the wider regional conflict to focus on Lebanon and Gaza, having previously only intercepted Houthi missiles and drones rather than retaliating. A full closure of the Bab el Mandeb could change that calculus, particularly given what the report describes as a much-improved Israeli intelligence picture of Houthi positions.

The Saudi Factor and Yemen’s Aid Lifeline

The article frames the Saudi response as the central unknown. The Houthi grievance is tied to stalled negotiations to end Yemen’s civil war, which has continued since 2014, and speculation persists that Saudi Arabia could still resolve tensions by offering the Houthis a $14 billion settlement. Notably, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that more than 300 ships have discharged cargo — much of it internationally donated food aid — at Houthi-controlled ports including Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Salif since the start of 2026. Renewed Houthi attacks put that humanitarian flow at risk.

The report also points out that Saudi Arabia has used the ceasefire period since March 2022 to upgrade its intelligence and precision-strike capabilities, including new Navantia-built corvettes deployed in the Red Sea, suggesting the Houthis could face a far more capable Saudi military response than in earlier rounds of conflict.

What It Means for Owners and Managers

For ship owners, managers, and charterers, the immediate takeaway is that transits through the Bab el Mandeb remain physically possible but carry sharply elevated risk exposure that AIS-reported normal traffic flow can mask. Vessels loading Saudi crude or calling at Saudi ports may now face targeted risk distinct from the broader regional threat picture. Given the uncertainty around fire damage, hull integrity, and cargo condition following any reported strike, operators with tonnage transiting or having recently transited the corridor should prioritize thorough condition surveys and hull inspections before further loading or discharge operations, and ensure war-risk and insurance documentation reflects the current threat status. Bunker quantity and quality verification also becomes more critical when vessels are forced into unplanned anchorage or rerouting, as fuel supply chains in the region come under added strain.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.