Houthi Missiles Strike Two Saudi Tankers in Red Sea; One on Fire

The Saudi tanker Encelia caught fire in the Red Sea on July 22 after a missile hit its starboard side, roughly 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq. All crew were safe. Saudi Arabia's state news agency confirmed the fire started on the bow.

Yemen's Houthi movement claimed the attack. The group said it targeted Encelia and a second Saudi tanker, Layla, using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones. The Houthis said both tankers had violated a naval blockade declared against Saudi Arabia on July 20. The claim about Layla was not independently confirmed as of July 23, Reuters reported.

The July 20 blockade declaration warned shipping companies against loading cargo at Saudi ports. Any tanker deemed a violator would be targeted, the Houthis said. Multiple tankers turned back in the Red Sea in the days that followed, Washington Post and Bloomberg reported.

The shipping context extends beyond this report: our guides explain the importance of maritime chokepoints, how conflict changes shipping routes, and why ships take longer routes.