Houthis expand shipping attacks to northern Red Sea, threaten Suez Canal transits

Published Aug 5, 06:19 PM UTC

The Houthi rebels of Yemen announced they are widening their naval campaign against Saudi shipping to the northern Red Sea, targeting vessels heading toward the Suez Canal. The group claimed a successful ballistic missile strike on the Saudi oil tanker NCC Wafa off the port of Yanbu. This escalation follows a Houthi blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which had already forced Saudi oil tankers to reroute through the Suez Canal. The expansion threatens to further disrupt global energy supplies, particularly affecting Europe and Asia. Meanwhile, reports indicate the U.S., Iran, and Oman are nearing a temporary 60-day agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which was largely closed after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. The deal would establish a bifurcated traffic pattern through Iranian and Omani waters and clear mines from the median lane. The Houthi escalation could draw the U.S. into a new military campaign, diverting resources from operations against Iran, and may also provoke Egyptian opposition due to potential revenue losses from the Suez Canal.