Saudi Arabia confirms one of its oil tankers was struck in the Red Sea, the first confirmed attack since the Houthi blockade

On Thursday, 23 July 2026, Yemen's Houthi forces said they had struck two tankers carrying Saudi oil, named Encelia and Layla, with drones and missiles, accusing the vessels of violating the naval blockade the group declared on Saudi ports earlier this week.

Saudi Arabia's official news agency (SPA) confirmed that the Encelia was hit while transiting the Red Sea, saying the attack started a fire at the bow of the vessel; no casualties have been reported so far. It is the first confirmed strike on a ship since the Houthis announced their blockade of Saudi shipping earlier in the week, when only tanker reroutings had been reported.

The incident opens a fresh front alongside the Strait of Hormuz for the global oil market. According to CNBC, oil prices rose again on Thursday, with Brent crude futures climbing toward about $98 a barrel. Disruption along the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb route could further tighten the oil-shipping map that sets global prices, and in turn Iran's gold and currency markets.