Yemen’s Houthis Claim Oil Tanker Attacks as U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran

Attacks on Oil Tankers and Shifts in Shipping Routes

On Thursday, Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The tankers, identified as the Encelia and the Layla, faced strikes near the Saudi port of Jizan. A maritime security source reported that the Encelia transmitted a distress call after being struck by a missile late on Wednesday. According to reports from Saudi state news agency SPA, the Encelia had been hit at its bow, causing a fire. The attack on the Layla remained unconfirmed.

The Houthis' attacks highlight heightened tensions and potential disruptions to oil supplies through key shipping routes. In response to Houthi warnings, five tankers altered their courses in the Red Sea, with two signaling they would head towards the Suez Canal as an alternative route. This shift underscores the increasing concerns among investors about potential disruptions in global oil supplies.

U.S. Strikes on Iran

The U.S. military announced its 12th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian targets, including maritime capabilities, missile storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets. Central Command stated that these strikes aimed to degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial vessels.

During the month, U.S. forces have redirected nine commercial vessels and disabled one during naval blockades in coordination with Houthi activities. According to reports, 50,000 U.S. service members are deployed across the Middle East. In a broader context, the U.S. military's Central Command (Centcom) said it had targeted dozens of Iranian military sites on land and that US forces had redirected nine commercial vessels and disabled one to prevent ships from entering or departing Iranian ports amid the resumed naval blockade.

Strategic Implications for Shipping Routes

The attacks by Houthis and Iran's efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz have raised concerns among investors about potential disruptions in global oil supplies. The latest developments could lead to increased costs and delays, as tankers seek alternative routes through the Suez Canal.

Two large Chinese crude carriers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil are currently navigating towards Bab el-Mandeb strait to exit the Red Sea. This movement tests how strictly the Houthis will enforce their announced naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. The ships' attempt to transit the strait will clearly test how tightly the Houthis will impose the naval blockade they announced on Monday.

Further details of the attacks show that the Singaporean-flagged VLCC Xin Long Yang, which made a U-turn and took a pause in the middle of the Red Sea on Tuesday, resumed its journey southward late on Wednesday. The Chinese-flagged VLCC Cosnew Lake was following and was signaling it would discharge its cargo at the port of Huizhou in southern China. Both vessels indicated through their automatic identification system transmitters that there were Chinese crew onboard.

The landmark nuclear agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, aimed at establishing a civilian nuclear program in the Gulf country, has caused alarm across the Middle East. The deal remains unclear but concerns center on whether Saudi Arabia would have the capability to enrich uranium domestically and what that means for nuclear proliferation.

Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guard is saying it stopped three oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In recent weeks, Iran has hit tankers using a route hugging the Omani coast to traverse the waterway, in an effort to push vessels into using its own waters and pay for safe passage as Tehran and Washington vie for control of the vital energy pathway.

The Houthis’ claim to have hit two Saudi oil tankers as part of the naval blockade on Saudi Arabia elevates the threat of a second chokehold on global oil supplies at the Red Sea in coordination with Iran’s attempt to control the strait of Hormuz. The Iran-aligned militants, who control areas near the Bab el-Mandeb strait on the opposite end of the Arabian Peninsula from the Hormuz strait, said they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.

The attacks and blockades have significant economic implications. Oil prices have risen due to these conflicts; Brent crude futures were up by more than 1.3% to $95.31 a barrel on Thursday after the U.S. announced its strikes, and the Iranian-aligned Houthis claimed military strikes on two Saudi oil tankers.

In conclusion, the ongoing tensions between the U.S., Iran, and their allies continue to threaten global shipping routes and energy supplies, raising concerns about economic stability and geopolitical implications in the region.

Source: The Guardian