Houthis Attack Saudi Oil Tanker in Red Sea, Putting ‘Mecca Pact’ to the Test

Riyadh: Bahri, Saudi Arabia's national shipping company, has confirmed that one of its vessels was attacked in the Red Sea on Monday. The attack was carried out by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen. All crew members on board are safe, and there are no reports of injuries. Earlier, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker had been struck by an "unknown projectile" approximately 63 nautical miles (117 km) west of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, causing a fire on the main deck. Meanwhile, the British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech reported that a Saudi-flagged vessel was hit by a missile and caught fire.

Yanbu is a major Saudi oil port from which millions of barrels of oil are loaded daily. It has become a primary route for Saudi oil exports following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Last month, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a blockade on Saudi-linked vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting shipping operations from Yanbu. This incident follows a series of recent attacks in the region.

Houthis attack Saudi warship

Earlier, on August 17, the Houthis claimed to have attacked a Saudi military landing ship and four accompanying escort vessels with a ballistic missile near the southwestern port city of Mocha in the Red Sea. Describing the operation, Houthi rebel military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the attack was carried out using multiple ballistic missiles and was "direct and precise." He claimed that the landing ship caught fire, while some escort boats sank and others were set ablaze. Mocha is a government-controlled port city located near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Will the Makkah Pact be activated?

Expectations arose that the Makkah Pact would be activated following the attacks on the Saudi Arabian tanker and warship. This pact exists between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey; under its terms, an attack on one nation is considered an attack on all of them. However, neither Pakistan nor Turkey has issued a response regarding the Houthi rebel attacks. While Pakistan has privately contacted Iran to request a halt to the Houthi attacks, no public announcement has been made to this effect. Experts have cited this as a weakness of the Makkah Pact, noting that each nation is primarily focused on pursuing its own interests.