Tanker attacks intensify as Saudi–Houthi fighting threatens Bab el-Mandeb

Summary

Maritime security in the Middle East is declining as tankers near the Strait of Hormuz suffer frequent strikes and renewed hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement in Yemen endanger transit through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) documented multiple assaults on merchant ships on 11 and 12 October, noting that unknown projectiles hit various tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, the UKMTO verified that a drone hit a tanker near the Sohar anchorage in Oman. Between 5 and 11 October, 12 ships were targeted, marking the highest weekly total of strikes recorded by the UKMTO since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran. Maritime security officials reported that the Singapore-registered container ship GFS Pride went down in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. Furthermore, the Antigua and Barbuda-registered Cape Dao sank near the strait, following a projectile strike on 23 September. These rising incidents heighten dangers for ships in the Gulf, where Iran has cautioned against routes it deems unapproved. Meanwhile, security has worsened further south due to fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-supported Yemeni government forces, with the Houthis advancing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. On 12 October, reports indicated Saudi Arabia endured a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes following a lethal attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The airport stayed shut as strikes on Saudi facilities and Saudi-led retaliatory airstrikes persisted. The Associated Press reported that the Saudi-led coalition launched additional strikes on oil sites west of Sanaa on 13 October. Houthi military spokespeople cautioned that more strikes on Yemen would trigger retaliation against Riyadh. This fighting impacts shipping directly; a US maritime advisory notes that the Houthis announced a blockade on Saudi-linked vessels in Bab el-Mandeb in July and cautions that ships with ties to Saudi Arabia, the US, the UK, or Israel face elevated risks in the Gulf of Aden and the southern Red Sea. Saudi oil export terminals on the Red Sea have also faced impacts. On 1 October, an unknown projectile hit the port of Yanbu, causing a fire and temporarily stopping loading for a Liberian-registered tanker. Loading later restarted, though the ship was not named and the projectile's origin remained unknown. This followed a drone strike that interrupted the Saudi East–West oil pipeline. Yanbu is vital because the pipeline enables Saudi crude to reach the Red Sea while bypassing Hormuz. While recent reports do not confirm a new alert for a specific tanker at Yanbu, the port attacks, threats to Saudi infrastructure, and fighting near Bab el-Mandeb increase security pressure on the export chain. Shipping firms are prioritizing updated voyage risk evaluations, monitoring UKMTO alerts, and coordinating with insurers, naval liaisons, and flag states. The situation is volatile, with no signs that the regional conflict or the attacks will decrease.

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Sources

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• defenceweb.co.za
  • Tanker attacks intensify as Saudi–Houthi fighting threatens Bab el-Mandeb - DefenceWeb2026-10-16

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