Two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude were forced to turn back in the Red Sea after warnings from Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, according to a single unverified report. The incident raises concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies.
Tuesday evening, a single unverified report emerged claiming that two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude were forced to turn back in the Red Sea after warnings from the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The report, which has not been independently corroborated, adds to a series of similar claims that surfaced on Monday July 20, when The Zioneer tracked multiple reports of ships reversing course in the Red Sea following Houthi threats.
On Monday, Reuters reported that two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude reversed course toward the Suez Canal after a Houthi warning (20:32 Jerusalem). The Abu Saleh Arab Desk later identified four tankers—the Agios Gerasimos, MICA, NAVIG8 EXPRESS, and Trust—that had changed course (20:32 Jerusalem). The Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency subsequently claimed six ships had turned back, and the Houthis themselves officially claimed responsibility and warned Saudi-linked vessels (20:32 Jerusalem). All reports remained single-sourced and unverified by independent sources.
The new Tuesday report comes amid a broader Houthi naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, declared on July 20, as The Zioneer reported. The Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree had earlier threatened to strike Saudi oil facilities (July 13). The blockade and associated threats have raised concerns about potential disruptions to Red Sea shipping and global energy supplies.
The identity of the tankers in Tuesday's report, the exact location of the turnback, and the response of Saudi or coalition forces remain unconfirmed. The report is based on a single source and has not been independently verified.
11 developments
- DevelopingSix Saudi oil tankers reroute via southern Africa amid Houthi threats, N12 reports
- StrongInternational Chamber of Shipping: 9 ships divert from Bab el-Mandeb after Houthi warnings
- DevelopingTwo Saudi oil tankers cross Bab el-Mandeb strait despite Houthi blockade, Reuters reports
- DevelopingHouthi military spokesman claims eight Saudi oil tankers rerouted due to naval blockade
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