On July 22, 2026, Yemen's Houthi rebels launched an attack on Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that an unidentified projectile struck a tanker approximately 70 nautical miles (130 kilometers) from the Saudi port of Al-Shuqaiq, causing a fire that the crew worked to extinguish. There were no reported casualties or environmental pollution.

The Houthi movement, which is aligned with Iran, claimed responsibility for targeting two tankers, identified as Encelia and Layla, using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. While the Houthis alleged the vessels violated a naval blockade they had recently declared against Saudi Arabia, official Saudi sources confirmed only one hit. The rebels also claimed they forced ten other ships to turn back, though these reports remain unverified.

Following the incident, Houthi negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam stated that the blockade is intended only to restrict Saudi vessels and is not meant to paralyze the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The rebels had previously issued warnings to ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, threatening to target any vessels belonging to the Saudi enemy, while simultaneously reassuring the international community that they do not intend to close the vital maritime passage.