Houthi blockade triggers Red Sea tanker attacks and Oman maritime explosion
Yemen's Houthi rebels have declared a formal naval blockade against Saudi-linked shipping, reporting strikes on the tankers Encelia and Layla in the Red Sea. In a separate incident on August 3, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an explosion near an unnamed tanker off the coast of Oman. These escalations follow Houthi demands for control over Yemen's oil revenue and the lifting of the Saudi-led blockade on Yemeni ports.
Date: August 3, 2026
Location: Red Sea, Yemen
Conflict: Red Sea Crisis
Category: naval
Severity: HIGH
Source: Anadolu Agency