The Iran-backed Houthis have now escalated the U.S. war with the Islamic Republic of Iran, with an attack on Saudi Arabia. “Houthis claim strikes on two Saudi tankers as US attacks on Iran widen,” Guardian, July 23, 2026:
Yemen’s Houthi militia attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers, the Iranian-aligned group said on Thursday, with a Saudi news agency later confirming one of the vessels was ablaze in the Red Sea.
The threat of new front opening up in the US-Iran war came as the US military launched its 12th successive night of strikes, which have now widened to western and central Iran.
The Houthis said they attacked two tankers, the Encelia and Layla, saying the vessels had violated a naval blockade imposed by the group on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. The Houthis said they targeted the tankers with a number of ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones.
Saudi Arabian news outlet SPA said an attack caused a fire on the bow of the Encelia but all crew members were safe. It did not say who targeted the vessel.
A maritime security source said earlier on Thursday that the Encelia had transmitted a distress call via VHF radio, reporting it had been struck by a missile while operating at the outer port limits of Saudi Arabia’s Jizan, in the Red Sea, and was on fire.
The British maritime risk-management group Vanguard also said the Saudi-flagged tanker Encelia was struck by an unknown projectile about 70 nautical miles (130 km) south-west of Saudi Arabia’s Al Shuqaiq…
This latest Houthi escalation in the Red Sea threatens “to open a new front in a war that has roiled the global economy, sending prices for fuel and other goods surging across the world.” Marco Rubio stated:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio:
I hope that the Houthis stop. They shouldn’t really do that. They got suckered into this by the Iranians. The Houthis largely were smart and stayed out of all this throughout the conflict. They now apparently have gotten themselves suckered into… pic.twitter.com/rJIS6on3Qi
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) July 23, 2026
The Houthis have long been targeting Israel and tying up Red Sea shipping, thus impacting the global economy. Given the current war between the U.S. and Iran, the Houthis are leaning into their questionable strategy. This will likely backfire, as it will raise the ire of Saudi Arabia, a country they’ve warred with in the recent past.
In 2009, the Houthi insurgency against the central Yemen government led to Saudi border incursions. Then, between 2015 and 2022, Saudi Arabia formed an Arab military coalition of over 10 nations to push back the Houthis after they captured the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. This was seen largely as an Iran proxy war with Saudi Arabia. A UN-brokered peace treaty was finally signed to end the hostilities in 2022. That is, hostilities ended until now, with this latest escalation.
The Yemen government recently struck the Houthi-
In Yemen, the Houthis control some 30% of Yemen’s land mass, but they control up to 80% of the country’s population, since the Houthis have a grip on the north, which is the most populous area of Yemen.
So the Houthis must now contend with the Yemeni government, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. after its attacks on the Saudi oil tankers Encelia and Layla. Let’s hope that swift and severe consequences are on the way.
Wellington says
“I hope that the Houthis stop. They shouldn’t really do that.”
Oh brother. By the week, even by the day, I think we’re in deeper and deeper trouble.
There is only one thing to be done with dead-enders like the Houthis and their backer, the ones still in charge of Iran. You must kill them. Death is the only real solution and negotiating with such people is a fool’s errand.
somehistory says
I’ve been watching an old British detective series. Several men in high positions are of the criminal variety and squash by threats, the investigations of the lower ranking guys.
Mr. Rubio, who is threatening you? Or have you somehow caught a mind-numbing virus regarding muzzies?
࿗Infidel࿘ says
The one thing that the Houthis are doing is diverting Saudi attention to their southwestern border. They are incapable of dealing w/ 2 fronts at any given moment
In the meantime, Iran is threatening Kuwait, which is a delight to watch. They have threatened a land invasion there, which would imply going through Basra province and then entering Kuwait. I just wonder what, if any, opposition they will get from Baghdad?
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I’ll correct myself:
Iranthe islamic republic. I use the same convention nowadays that Armin Navabi, Ali Samani, Mahyar Tousi and Goldie Ghamari use: Iran to describe the Iranian people/nation/Pahlavi movement/deislamizing Iranians, and islamic republic to describe the ☫ regime and their bureaucratic & jihadist apparatusDavid M says
Nothing about this is a “delight” to me, the world is one step away from nuclear WW3. Trump should never have started this war, now he is in a hole he can’t get out of.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I’ll take your claim about the world being near nuclear WW3 once you’ve explained Ukraine’s victories over Russia, taking the war completely to Russia. Including not just Moscow, but even places like Volgograd and Kazan
OLD GUY says
I wonder how many of these missiles and drones were built by American manufactures and sold on the foreign and open market market for profits, I hope none.
Stacy says
Solution.
Emulate WW2 and carpet bomb both Iran and Yemen. And be liberal with MOABS and GBU-57 series MOP , WW2 “Grand Slam”,
AN-M56 (Blockbuster) and others
David M says
1, The US doesn’t have enough bombs left
2. Iran is a lot bigger than Vietnam
3. Iran is not going to surrender.
Talk about ignoring history & not learning from the mistakes of the past. The world economy is about to implode when oil hits $150 a barrel, all because Israel conned the US into fighting its war for it.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Well, it’s well known that most of the Iranian people loathe their regime, and have been appealing to the US & Israel to help overthrow that regime. That’s a major difference from Vietnam, for starters
Do you really only depend on the MSM for your news? It’s the 21st century: you can follow local news from the countries where the activities take place, be it Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Britain, et al. That makes a lot more sense than listening to theorizing “experts” working for various news agencies