Houthi rebels attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday, July 23, 2026, igniting fires and threatening a critical artery for global capital. The Iran-backed group announced the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping. This move comes as direct retaliation for the kingdom’s ongoing blockade on Yemen and a recent strike on the international airport in Sanaa, Yemen’s rebel-held capital.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center confirmed a fire on a tanker in the Red Sea following an attack. Saudi’s state-run news agency also reported the incident. No casualties were reported from the attack.
Capital's Chokepoint
Bab el-Mandeb, situated at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, serves as a vital shipping chokepoint. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, facilitating approximately 12% of the world’s trade. A fourth of global container traffic moves through these narrows. This strait has become even more indispensable for Saudi oil exports since the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, which has severely limited shipping out of the Persian Gulf during the Iran war.
More than 7 million barrels of petroleum transited Bab el-Mandeb daily in June, a significant increase from around 4 million barrels before the Iran war. Saudi Arabia has been exporting some 4 million barrels of oil each day through its Red Sea port of Yanbu, mitigating some impact from the Strait of Hormuz closure. The Houthis stated they would only target vessels connected to Saudi Arabia or those entering and exiting its Red Sea ports. However, during a similar blockade against Israel over the war in Gaza, the rebels attacked numerous vessels with minimal or no connection to that conflict. The mere threat of disruption can deter international shippers from using the route, driving up risks and insurance premiums.
Three Houthi officials, speaking anonymously, revealed on Tuesday that the group had planned for months how to disrupt shipping in the strait. Their plans include deploying naval mines, explosive-laden boats, drones, and helicopters to allow fighters to board ships. Vessels would first receive warnings not to cross designated boundaries; military action would follow if warnings were ignored.
The State's Enforcement Arm
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a regional summit in the Philippines, reacted to the attack on the Saudi tanker. “I hope they’ll stop. They shouldn’t really do that,” he said. Rubio suggested the Houthis “got snookered into this thing by the Iranians,” urging them to “stay out of it and they should stop.” This framing dismisses the Houthis' stated grievances and agency, aligning with the interests of global capital.
Saudi Arabia’s military, acting as an imperial garrison, declared its intent to keep Bab el-Mandeb open. Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, a Saudi military spokesperson, stated, “All Houthi threats against transiting vessels will be dealt with swiftly and firmly, as such threats are a blatant violation of international law and fall under acts of maritime piracy.” This rhetoric criminalizes resistance against the Saudi-led blockade.
Yemen’s civil war began 12 years ago in 2014 when rebels seized Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, forcing the government into exile. Saudi Arabia led an international coalition fighting the rebels and imposed an air and sea blockade on Houthi-held parts of Yemen. This blockade has eased in recent years, but its effects persist. Major fighting in Yemen ended with a truce 4 years ago in 2022.
Costs of Imperialism
The Houthis claim Saudi Arabia struck the Sanaa airport earlier this month in an attempt to stop a flight carrying Houthi leaders from Iran. The plane landed safely at another airport. In response, the Houthis launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport, marking the most significant confrontation in years. Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, noted that the threat to Saudi Arabia also benefits Iran, giving it more leverage and influence over a critical maritime chokepoint, especially as the U.S. has resumed daily airstrikes.
Capital has alternative routes, though at increased cost. Saudi Arabia could ship up to 2.5 million barrels a day across the Red Sea to Egypt, utilizing the SUMED pipeline to the Mediterranean. An additional 1 million barrels a day could go through the Suez Canal. International shippers could also reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding one or two weeks to voyages and raising costs. The Houthis previously attacked over 100 vessels during the height of the war in Gaza, about 1 year ago, before a punishing U.S. and Israeli air campaign ended those attacks in early 2025.