The Yemen-based Houthi group stated they conducted missile and drone strikes targeting two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday, aiming to establish a new maritime chokehold to pressure Saudi Arabia. This move follows their declaration of a naval blockade near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, escalating regional tensions as a secondary disruption to global oil shipments parallels Iran’s partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States military confirmed it carried out fresh airstrikes against Iranian targets on Wednesday, marking the twelfth consecutive night of operations ordered by President Donald Trump.
Analysts suggest the Houthis’ blockade strategy, positioned along Yemen’s coastline, could serve as a bargaining chip for Iran in its ongoing geopolitical maneuvers. Pre-existing disruptions to Hormuz—which supplies nearly 20% of global oil—have already driven up energy prices and affected U.S. consumers during a politically sensitive period ahead of November’s congressional elections.
Three Saudi oil tankers loaded with crude for China and India reversed course on Tuesday to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, while five additional tankers altered Red Sea routes on Wednesday. On Thursday, a maritime security source reported a distress signal from the Encelia, a Saudi tanker struck by a missile near Jizan Port. The Layla was also cited as targeted, though confirmation remains pending. Saudi state media confirmed a fire broke out at the bow of the Encelia following the assault.
Global shipping analysts warn that Red Sea diversions—particularly to the Suez Canal—could add weeks and billions of dollars to oil transportation costs. Two Chinese very large crude carriers laden with 4 million barrels of Saudi oil are approaching the Bab el-Mandeb Strait despite the Houthi threat, as shown by shipping data.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for strikes on the Encelia and Layla using missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia’s official SPA news agency corroborated damage to the Encelia, while the Layla’s targeted status has not been verified by independent sources.
Trump Threatens Iranian Infrastructure, Iran Warns Retaliation
Prior to the Red Sea incident, Trump declared on Wednesday he would target Iranian bridges or power plants each time Iran attacks shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s joint military leadership responded that such actions would provoke retaliation against regional oil, gas, and energy infrastructure, effectively halting all oil exports, according to Iranian state media.
Just hours later, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported a fire onboard one of three tankers south of the Hormuz Strait, attributing the explosion to a mined route. They asserted full control of the waterway, threatening to block unauthorised vessel passage.
U.S. Central Command stated it would persist in reducing Iranian military capabilities following a series of strikes targeting key sites in Bushehr, where explosions were reported near the country’s sole operational nuclear reactor.
Khuzestan province official reports indicated at least two fatalities and 11 injuries in a U.S. strike on Shalamcheh, a key border crossing with Iraq. These incidents follow twelve days of uninterrupted U.S. attacks since the February ceasefire collapse.
Despite U.S. claims of degrading Iran’s defenses, Tehran has demonstrated continued missile and drone operational capacity. Recent Iranian strikes have targeted desalination and energy facilities in Kuwait, alongside U.S. military installations in Bahrain and Jordan.
Human Toll Deepens as Both Sides Report Escalating Losses
Iran’s health ministry reported 53 civilian deaths and 592 injuries since late last month, with thousands killed and millions displaced since U.S.-Israeli escalations began in February.
U.S. Defense Department reiterates a policy of avoiding civilian casualties, though potential violations of the 1949 Geneva Conventions remain a concern. Trump’s threat to target dual-use infrastructure introduces ambiguity, provided civilian casualties remain proportionate.
Eighteen U.S. military personnel have been killed in Iran-related conflicts, with over 450 injured. Trump visited Dover Air Force Base to honor four service members killed in recent attacks: three in Jordan and one in Iraq. During a subsequent Georgia speech, he dismissed the broader conflict as a “skirmish.”