Houthis Escalate Red Sea Attacks on Saudi Oil Tankers as Hormuz Deal Nears
The conflict in Yemen has reignited with renewed intensity, as Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Wednesday. This marks at least the eighth attack on Saudi shipping since the Houthis imposed a maritime blockade on July 22. The group has threatened to close all access routes to Saudi oil shipments, a move that risks destabilizing global energy markets just as a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz appears close.
Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree confirmed that ballistic missiles were launched at the Saudi tanker Wafa near the port city of Yanbu. A second tanker, identified as Daisy, was hit in the Gulf of Aden and forced to turn back. The Houthis are framing this as a blockade for blockade strategy, retaliating against what they see as Saudi-led aggression.
Ground Fighting Resumes in Yemen's Oil-Rich Regions
The maritime attacks coincide with a fresh outbreak of ground fighting. Al Arabiya reports that a Houthi assault killed 45 government forces in Hadramawt and Marib, areas that hold the vast majority of Yemen's oil and gas fields. The Yemeni Armed Forces, representing the internationally recognized government based in Aden, have announced preparations for a large new military operation. Al Jazeera adds that the Yemeni Emergency Forces suffered material and human losses after suspected Houthi rocket and drone attacks targeted their bases.
This escalation underscores the fragility of the Oman-sponsored talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Even if a grand Hormuz deal can be finalized, a separate ceasefire will be needed to contain the crisis in Yemen and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Iran's Strategy: Good Cop, Bad Cop in the Red Sea
The Houthi closure of the Red Sea to Saudi shipping reflects a calculated Iranian strategy. It is a way for Tehran to maintain leverage over global energy markets, even as ships in Hormuz could finally move again. The Houthis are part of Iran's axis of resistance, a network that has supported the Shia rebel group since it seized power in September 2014.
Saudi Arabia is now being squeezed from three directions in the widening U.S.-Iran conflict: Iraq to its northeast, Yemen to its southwest, and Iran to its east. On July 18, Tehran struck Prince Sultan Air Base near Riyadh, its first direct hit on Saudi soil in nearly four months.
Why This Matters: A Nesting Doll of Crises
To understand the stakes, picture the crises as a set of nesting dolls. The innermost doll is Yemen's civil war, a decade-old fight between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government. The roots trace to the 2011 Arab Spring, which toppled Yemen's president and left a power vacuum the Houthis filled by seizing Sana'a in 2014. Saudi Arabia intervened in 2015 to reverse that takeover, and the war has continued ever since.
The middle doll is Saudi Arabia's broader rivalry with Iran, a contest for regional leadership that has run since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. The outermost doll is the global energy market, where any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz or Bab al-Mandab can send oil prices soaring.
Hormuz Deal Close, but Conditions Remain
Iranian officials have said a deal with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is on the verge of being finalized, with entry and exit routes and protocols established. Iran insists that Washington has nothing to do with the deal and warns against U.S. military interference. The White House appears serious about an offramp, as bombs have fallen silent for several days.
But unknowns remain. Al Jazeera notes that for Iran to reopen the Strait, the U.S. must abide by a memorandum of understanding signed in mid-June. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that alone would not be enough. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned: We are ready to retaliate, but finding a diplomatic solution is the best way to avoid wider escalation and destruction across the region.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reports that the Saudi-backed government shot down a Houthi drone over Marib. The country's SABA news agency said the targeting embodies the Houthis' escalatory approach and their insistence on continuing their terrorist acts.
FAQ: Understanding the Yemen Crisis
What is the Houthis' blockade for blockade strategy?
The Houthis are targeting Saudi oil shipments in the Red Sea as retaliation for a Saudi-led blockade on Yemeni ports. They aim to close all access routes to Saudi oil, mirroring the restrictions imposed on them.
How does the Hormuz deal affect the Yemen conflict?
The deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could reduce tensions in the Persian Gulf, but it does not address the separate crisis in Yemen. A separate ceasefire is needed to stop the fighting in Marib and Hadramawt.
Why is Iran involved in Yemen?
Iran supports the Houthis as part of its axis of resistance, a network of proxies that challenge Saudi and U.S. influence in the region. The conflict is a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia.