Arab and international reactions continued on Thursday after the Houthis announced a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers, while maritime security reports indicated that one of the vessels mentioned by the Houthis the Saudi-flagged tanker "Ensilia" was attacked in the Red Sea.
اضافة اعلان
The two vessels were reportedly targeted with "a number of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones."
The attacks were described as violations of international laws and norms that guarantee the safety of commercial vessels and their crews.
An official from the General Transport Authority confirmed that all crew members were safe and that relevant authorities had taken all necessary measures to secure the vessel, protect its crew, and safeguard the marine environment.
The coalition forces said on Monday, July 20, 2026, that they would take and implement all firm and decisive operational measures in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to protect maritime vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The Houthis announced on the same day that they were imposing a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, a move that threatens to open a new front in the Iran conflict and expand risks to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf region.
Iran had reportedly requested on July 16, 2026, that the Houthis in Yemen prepare to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait if the United States attacked Iran's electricity infrastructure.
Jordan
Jordan condemned the Houthi attack targeting a Saudi vessel while it was passing through the Red Sea, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as a threat to maritime security and navigation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates stated Jordan's rejection and condemnation of the attack, expressing full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for any measures it takes to protect its security, stability, and national interests.
France
The French government called on the Houthis to stop their attacks on Saudi oil tankers, describing them as a dangerous and irresponsible escalation.
A French Foreign Ministry spokesperson said:
"The Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers are an irresponsible and dangerous escalation."
United States
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by Yemen's Houthis, who announced this week that they were imposing a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia.
Trump said:
"Unfortunately, here they go again, firing on two Saudi ships last night. Consider this post a declaration that if they do it again, the United States will hold Iran responsible, as the Houthis are proxies or representatives of Iran, and will impose major military punishment on Iran—and, of course, on the Houthis themselves."
Germany
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed his country's "great concern" following the Houthi attack on a Saudi oil tanker, warning of a possible escalation of the Middle East conflict.
Speaking during a visit to southwestern Germany, Pistorius said:
"Clearly, things are developing in the wrong direction," adding that "there is currently no indication that a ceasefire can be reached."
Kuwait
Kuwait strongly condemned the Houthi attack on a Saudi vessel sailing in the Red Sea, calling it a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to maritime security, freedom of navigation, international trade, and energy supplies.
The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for measures taken to protect its sovereignty, security, and interests, stressing Kuwait's rejection of actions that threaten regional stability.
United Nations
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned during a Security Council meeting that the situation in the Middle East had become "out of control."
Guterres said:
"The situation is out of control. It is on the brink of something unimaginable. The region is sinking into an expanding cycle of confrontations."
He added that:
"One crisis is feeding another, and one escalation is leading to another."
European Union
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called on the Houthis to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea.
In a statement, Kallas said:
"The attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea is unacceptable and illegal, and it fuels the already tense situation in the region."
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde also expressed concern over Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.
Bahrain
Bahrain strongly condemned what it described as a terrorist attack carried out by the Houthis against a Saudi-owned vessel sailing in the Red Sea.
The attack reportedly caused a fire at the front of the ship but resulted in no injuries.
Bahrain's Foreign Ministry said the attack was a serious violation of international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and a grave threat to maritime security, global trade, and energy supplies.
Muslim World League
The Muslim World League strongly condemned the Houthi targeting of a Saudi vessel in the Red Sea.
Secretary-General Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa described the attack as a criminal and cowardly act that violates religious values, international laws, and humanitarian principles, warning that it reflects the group's continued targeting of civilian and economic facilities and threats to international trade routes and the marine environment.
United Kingdom
The UK strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi commercial vessels.
The British Foreign Office said:
"These reckless actions endanger lives, threaten an environmental disaster, and undermine regional stability, in a blatant violation of international law."
The ministry added on the social media platform X:
"We stand with Saudi Arabia and urge the Houthis to stop their attacks."
Qatar
Qatar strongly condemned the Houthi targeting of a Saudi vessel in the Red Sea, describing it as a serious violation of international maritime safety, a direct threat to global energy supplies, and a clear breach of international law.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry warned that continued attacks represent a dangerous escalation threatening regional security and stability.
It called on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities in implementing relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722 on freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE strongly condemned the Houthi attack targeting a vessel belonging to a Saudi company while sailing in the Red Sea.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said the attack represents a serious threat to international maritime safety and security and constitutes a dangerous escalation aimed at undermining the security and stability of vital global waterways.
The ministry called on the international community to ensure implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722 on navigation rights and freedom in the Red Sea.
