The security crisis in the Red Sea has intensified after Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, signaling a major expansion of its maritime campaign and raising fresh concerns over global energy supply routes.

Read also: Houthi Threat to Red Sea Shipping Risks Global Energy Supply, May Trigger Multinational Naval Response

The announcement came shortly after the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker had been struck by an unidentified projectile about 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia.

According to UKMTO, the impact sparked a fire onboard, but the crew was able to respond immediately. No injuries or pollution have been reported, and authorities are investigating the incident while advising vessels in the area to exercise heightened caution.

In a statement released Wednesday, the Houthis said they targeted the Saudi-flagged tankers Encelia and Layla, accusing the vessels of violating the group’s newly announced maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia.

The group claimed the operation involved ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, alleging that both tankers caught fire following the strikes. Independent authorities have not verified the Houthi claims regarding the second vessel, Layla.

The reported attack represents a significant escalation in the Houthis’ maritime campaign. Until recently, the group had primarily focused on vessels it linked to Israel, the United States and their allies. Expanding operations to Saudi commercial shipping opens another front in an already volatile regional conflict.

Earlier this week, the Houthis warned they would begin targeting Saudi-linked vessels, saying the move was in response to what they described as Saudi support for U.S. military operations and the ongoing blockade of Yemen. The group also claimed it had forced around ten ships to alter course and retreat from the Red Sea, pledging to continue its campaign under what it called a “siege for a siege” strategy.

Shipping records identify Encelia as a Saudi-flagged oil products tanker with a deadweight of approximately 109,000 tonnes, while Layla is listed as a Saudi-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC) operated by Bahri, Saudi Arabia’s national shipping company. The vessel information aligns with the Houthis’ description of both ships as Saudi-owned or Saudi-operated tankers.

The attacks come as tensions across the Middle East continue to intensify following the collapse of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, which has already triggered renewed security threats in the Strait of Hormuz.

Adding to the pressure, U.S. Central Command confirmed Wednesday that American forces had launched another round of strikes against Iranian military targets, marking the twelfth consecutive night of military operations aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian mariners.

Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump also warned that the United States would respond forcefully to future attacks on merchant vessels, threatening strikes on Iranian infrastructure if commercial shipping in the region continues to come under attack.

The latest developments raise the possibility that the Middle East’s two most strategically important maritime corridors—the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea—could face simultaneous disruptions, creating new risks for global energy markets, tanker operators and international supply chains.