Houthi attacks two Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea
The Houthi movement attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, enforcing a maritime blockade and escalating regional tensions.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, enforcing a maritime blockade announced on Monday and escalating regional tensions. The attacks, which used ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, struck the Saudi-flagged tanker Anselia as it travelled south from the port of Yanbu. Britain's Maritime Security Agency reported a large fire on board, but all crew are safe. A second tanker, the crude oil carrier Leila, was also claimed hit by the Houthis, but this has not been independently confirmed.
The Houthi action follows their declaration of a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia. The Bab el-Mandeb strait at the southern end of the Red Sea is a critical chokepoint for global trade, with about 15% of global seaborne trade and 30% of containerised trade passing through it. The attacks have caused a sharp rise in oil prices, which surged above $100 a barrel for the first time since May. Analysts warn that if the blockade continues, consumers could see price rises within a month.
The United States has been conducting airstrikes on Iran for a 13th consecutive night, targeting command centres, drone storage sites and communication networks. US Central Command said the strikes aim to hold Iran accountable and diminish threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to commercial shipping. President Trump threatened on social media that if the Houthis attack again, the US will hold Iran responsible and inflict major military punishment. Iran has retaliated by targeting US allies in the region, including Kuwait and Jordan, and has expanded its threats to include British bases such as RAF Fairford, which it says is a legitimate target after B-1 bombers flew from there to join US attacks. The UK Ministry of Defence says the country stands ready to defend itself.
The Houthi attacks also threaten to end a four-year truce with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia had been using the port of Yanbu to export about five million barrels of oil per day, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz which is already effectively blocked by Iranian threats. If both straits are closed, Saudi Arabia would have no direct routes to its major Asian markets, forcing tankers to take longer, more expensive routes around Africa. The economic impact is already being felt in the UK, with petrol prices rising more than five pence since the start of the month and mortgage costs edging up again. The conflict shows no sign of de-escalation, with both sides continuing military operations and diplomatic off-ramps appearing distant.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC NEWS | BBC One | GB News | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iran threatened RAF Fairford as a legitimate target after a US B1 bomber flew from there. | ||||
| Houthis attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones; one tanker was hit and caught fire with all crew safe, while the other's status was not independently confirmed. | · | |||
| Oil prices reached $100 a barrel for the first time since May. | · | |||
| The US announced new airstrikes on Iran, the 13th consecutive night of strikes. | · | |||
| A Fox News poll showed support for President Trump's handling of the war at 39% with 61% unfavorable. | · | · | · | |
| At least 55 people have been killed in Iran since the start of the new US strikes. | · | · | · | |
| Iran launched missiles at US assets in Kuwait and Jordan in retaliation. | · | · | · | |
| Iran's state broadcaster reported explosions in multiple locations, including Bandar Abbas and Kashm Island. | · | · | · | |
| Saudi Arabia exports about five million barrels of oil per day from Yanbu, which is now threatened. | · | · | · | |
| The Bab el-Mandeb strait has been almost blocked by Houthi attacks. | · | · | · | |
| The Houthis appeared to be ending a four-year truce with Saudi Arabia. | · | · | · | |
| Trump threatened major military punishment against Iran and the Houthis if attacks continue. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This broadcast focused on verifying the Houthi attack using ship tracking and BBC Verify analysis. It emphasised the moment of enforcement of the blockade, the specific ships involved, and the potential economic impact on global oil prices. The tone was factual and cautious, noting that the second ship strike was unconfirmed.
- “This is kind of the moment that we've been waiting for, waiting to see if the Houthi's capacity and will to enforce the blockade they announced on Monday against Saudi Arabian ports, whether that would come through.”
- “All the crew now safe. We understand there was a large fire on board.”
- “consumers can expect to see price rises in maybe about a month.”
This broadcast, from Washington, placed the Houthi attack in the context of the wider US-Iran war, reporting on the 13th consecutive night of US strikes on Iran and Trump's threat of major punishment. It included a report by Jeremy Bowen highlighting the opening of a new front at the Bab el-Mandab strait and an interview with a Yemen expert who argued the Houthis were acting at Iran's behest.
- “If Bab al-Mandab, as well as the Strait of Hormuz, is blocked, the Saudis will have no direct routes to their huge markets in Asia.”
- “The Houthis in Yemen, Iran's allies, are attacking tankers carrying Saudi oil.”
- “President Trump said of the attacks on social media, quote, if they do this again, the US will hold Iran responsible and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran.”
This broadcast, from London, also covered the Houthi attack and US strikes, but gave more attention to the danger of escalation and the potential end of the Houthi-Saudi truce. It included an interview with an academic who argued Iran's IRGC is in a stronger position than before the war. The tone was more analytical about the strategic balance.
- “The Houthis look to be ending a four-year truce with Saudi Arabia.”
- “If Bab al-Mandab, as well as the Strait of Hormuz, is blocked, the Saudis will have no direct routes to their huge markets in Asia, and we will all feel the economic consequences of higher oil prices.”
- “President Trump said, if they do this again, the US will hold Iran responsible and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis themselves.”
This broadcast focused on the economic impact of the Houthi attack, particularly the surge in oil prices above $100 a barrel, and the strategic implications for Saudi oil exports via Yanbu. It featured security analyst Professor Michael Clarke who explained the blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the difficulty of US strikes. The tone was explanatory and concerned about the widening conflict.
- “The sharp rise in prices followed Houthi rebels in Yemen attacking a Saudi tanker in the Red Sea.”
- “The Houthis targeted a couple of Saudi Arabian tankers in the Red Sea and that effectively has almost blocked the Bab el-Mandeb strait.”
- “The point is these very big tankers that Saudi have, they load up at Yanbu, which has become a very important port since Hormuz has effectively been closed.”
This broadcast provided a concise update on the Houthi attack and US strikes, with a strong focus on the economic impact on UK households, including rising petrol prices and mortgage costs. It included a business correspondent explaining the knock-on effects on inflation and interest rates. The tone was direct and aimed at a domestic audience.
- “It looks like the war is escalating”
- “the price for a barrel of crude rose to about $100 for the first time since May”
- “petrols now just over five pence higher than it was at the start of the month.”
This broadcast repeated much of the same content as the earlier Sky News segment, focusing on the oil price spike and the strategic blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb. It again featured Professor Michael Clarke explaining the implications for Saudi oil exports and the difficulty of US military strikes. The tone was analytical and concerned about the lack of de-escalation.
- “The sharp rise in prices followed Houthi rebels in Yemen attacking a Saudi tanker in the Red Sea.”
- “The Houthis targeted a couple of Saudi Arabian tankers in the Red Sea and that effectively has almost blocked the Bab el-Mandeb strait.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.