Story perspectives

Saudi leads coalition to protect Red Sea shipping

8/25/2026

Summary

Saudi Forms Coalition

Saudi Arabia is forming an international coalition to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks.
Riyadh has consulted nearly fifty nations and secured pledges from thirteen, including Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Nigeria.
The Houthi blockade, imposed July 20, reduced transits to eleven cargo vessels recently.
President Donald Trump posted that Iran will be held responsible for future Houthi attacks.

Summary

Houthi Missile Strike

Houthi spokesman Gen. Yahya Saree said a ballistic missile struck the Saudi tanker Amzan off Yanbu, igniting a deck fire.
Bahri said all crew members were safe and unharmed.
UK Maritime Trade Operations reported no environmental impact from projectile that hit a tanker 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu.
The Houthi statement linked the strike to their “siege for siege” operation aimed at halting Saudi maritime navigation.

Summary

Saudi Boosts Exports

Oil exports via the Red Sea reached 1.1 million barrels daily, up one-third since the July 20 2026 blockade.
Sinokor Group, Dynacom Tankers and DHT Management run tankers from Yanbu to Ain Sukhna.
Four tankers completed the Yanbu-Ain Sukhna round-trip twice, moving 16 million barrels of crude.
Rerouting via the Suez Canal forces Asian deliveries over 17,000 miles, doubling voyage length.
Asian refiners asked to collect cargoes at Egypt’s Sidi Kerir instead of Yanbu, citing ship-availability issues.

History

Historical Context

Saudi Arabia launched a coalition in March 2015, deploying 150,000 troops and 100 fighter jets to support Yemen’s Hadi government and counter Houthi advances. The intervention built on a long-standing Saudi-Iran proxy rivalry and the kingdom’s $80 billion annual defence budget. Today, a thirteen-nation coalition—including Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan—mirrors that 2015 alliance as Houthi missile strikes again threaten Saudi tankers.

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Saudi Forms Coalition

Saudi Arabia is forming an international coalition to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks.
Riyadh has consulted nearly fifty nations and secured pledges from thirteen, including Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Nigeria.
The Houthi blockade, imposed July 20, reduced transits to eleven cargo vessels recently.
President Donald Trump posted that Iran will be held responsible for future Houthi attacks.

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