Houthis claim missile attack on Saudi military ship in Red Sea as naval blockade intensifies

Yemen’s Houthi movement says it launched missiles at a Saudi military ship and four escort vessels in the Red Sea, the latest in a string of claimed attacks since the group declared a naval blockade against Saudi vessels in late July.

Independent verification of this specific incident, involving one military vessel and four escorts, has not been confirmed. But the claim fits a pattern of escalating Houthi maritime aggression that has already rattled energy markets and forced shipping companies to rethink their Red Sea routes.

A blockade with real consequences

The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah and backed by Iran, announced their naval blockade targeting Saudi vessels around July 20, 2026. Since then, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree has claimed responsibility for strikes on multiple Saudi-linked vessels, particularly oil tankers.

Tankers including the Wafa, Daisy, Encelia, Layla, and NCC Ghazal have all been named in Houthi strike claims, with incidents reported near strategic chokepoints like the port city of Yanbu and the Gulf of Aden.

In one of the deadliest incidents, at least six crew members were killed aboard the cargo ship Tihamah. The Houthis claimed that vessel was carrying military equipment, though such assertions are difficult to verify independently.

Other tanker incidents have been less lethal but no less disruptive. Explosions and fires have been reported on multiple vessels, with crews often escaping unharmed.

Oil markets feel the heat

Oil prices briefly touched $100 per barrel amid concerns over supply chain security in the region.

This is not the first time Houthi activity has disrupted Red Sea shipping. The group conducted a sustained campaign against commercial vessels in late 2023 and into 2024, ostensibly in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. That earlier campaign forced major shipping lines like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to temporarily abandon Red Sea routes.

The current blockade is different in its stated target. Rather than broadly attacking vessels linked to Israel or Western nations, the Houthis are now directing their fire specifically at Saudi-linked ships, framing the campaign as retaliation for what they describe as Saudi restrictions affecting Yemen.

Strategic calculations and regional stakes

The involvement of Iran adds another layer. Tehran has long provided the Houthis with weapons, training, and strategic guidance.

The US, which conducted strikes against Houthi positions during the 2023-2024 campaign, faces a decision about whether to intervene again. European navies that participated in Operation Aspides, the EU’s Red Sea protection mission, may find themselves pulled back into escort duties.

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