US naval actions and Houthi attacks trigger multiple tanker incidents in Red Sea and Gulf of Oman

U.S. forces disabled a Saudi‑flagged tanker, the Encelia, about 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia, after Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed they had hit Saudi oil ships in the Red Sea. The incident sparked concerns about both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz as critical shipping lanes.

Separately, a U.S. missile strike in the Gulf of Oman reportedly hit an LPG tanker, killing two crew members and damaging the vessel’s engine room. Iran accused the United States of mistakenly targeting an Iranian‑registered gas carrier, though U.S. officials have not confirmed the report.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also recorded a tanker incident involving military forces in the Gulf of Oman, highlighting the growing risk of escalation in the region’s maritime chokepoints. The series of incidents raises the likelihood of disruptions to global oil and gas shipments and could lead to higher insurance premiums and more naval escorts for commercial vessels.