As oil soars, experts watch Red Sea tankers for clarity on Houthi blockade

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that oil markets are focused on tanker movements through the Red Sea after Yemen’s Houthi movement announced a naval blockade affecting Saudi shipments. The report, published July 24, 2026, said Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel on Thursday, climbing $6.58 to $100.65, after the Iran-aligned group said it would target Saudi, Israeli and US-linked tankers in the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

According to the report, the Houthis said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers on Thursday, while a Saudi news agency confirmed one vessel caught fire. Maritime analysis firm Windward said it was unclear whether the second tanker had been hit. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera said the immediate issue is not whether Saudi crude can move at all, but which operators and vessel affiliations may be allowed through.

Michelle Bockmann of Windward told Al Jazeera that the scope of the blockade remains uncertain, and said analysts are watching Chinese-owned tankers departing Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port. Windward said recent movement suggested enforcement may depend more on ownership, crew, destination or perceived affiliation than on the oil cargo itself. The report noted that Chinese-linked shipping has previously faced less Houthi interference during Red Sea attacks connected to the Gaza war.

The disruption comes alongside the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil route, and adds pressure to fuel markets. Al Jazeera cited analysts warning that US gasoline and diesel prices could rise, with diesel especially affected by separate refinery disruptions in Russia. The situation matters because multiple maritime chokepoints are now influencing energy prices, trade routes and inflation risks.