PM condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers, assures Riyadh of full support in call with MBS

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday condemned attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea during a telephone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and assured Riyadh of Pakistan’s full support.

"The prime minister expressed Pakistan’s condemnation, in the strongest possible terms, of the dastardly attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, saying that such actions were totally unacceptable, constitute a clear violation of international law, threaten freedom of navigation and commercial shipping, and undermine regional peace, security, and stability," said a statement issued by Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The statement came hours after Houthis struck two Saudi oil tankers as part of what the group described as a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis control areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The group has announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, a move some analysts have described as an attempt to increase pressure amid wider regional tensions.

The PMO statement further said that PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and stated that "he, along with Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and the entire Pakistani nation, stands firmly and resolutely with the Saudi leadership and brotherly people of the Kingdom at this critical time."

The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity.

"The prime minister assured MBS that Pakistan would continue to work very closely with the Kingdom, as well as with the international community, in support of peace, security, stability and the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce in the Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz and the wider region," the statement said.

According to the PMO, the crown prince appreciated Pakistan’s steadfast support and the close fraternal ties between the two countries.

"Availing himself of the opportunity, the prime minister conveyed his warm regards and best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud," the statement added.

The telephone conversation came amid heightened regional tensions following attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, a key global trade route.

The Foreign Office also released a statement on Wednesday, "unequivocally" condemning the continued threats issued by the Houthi militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, warning that such actions jeopardise global commerce and regional security.

Read: Houthis say they attacked Saudi tankers in Red Sea as US concludes 12th day of strikes on Iran

Five tankers changed course in the Red Sea to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Wednesday, and three tankers loaded with Saudi oil for China and India made U-turns on Tuesday.

Houthis strike Saudi tankers

Earlier today, the Houthis said their forces carried out missile and drone strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, identifying them as the Encelia and the Layla. Saudi state news agency SPA cited an official source as saying the Encelia was struck, causing a fire at the bow. The attack on the Layla remained unconfirmed.

A maritime security source said Encelia had transmitted a distress call, reporting it had been struck by a missile near the Saudi port of Jizan in the Red Sea late on Wednesday. Millions of barrels per day of Saudi oil have been heading to the kingdom's Red Sea port of Yanbu to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. If shipments cannot pass through the Red Sea's southern strait, they have only the northern route through the Suez Canal, adding weeks and costs to the journey.

Read More: FO condemns Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia, Red Sea shipping

The Houthi threat to impose a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia could significantly widen the war and strain the US military, current and former US officials said. Two Chinese very large crude carriers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil were heading toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Thursday, shipping data showed.

The full closure ​of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea, ​would halt Saudi oil exports to Asia and could reduce global oil supply by 7%.

The Iran war has ‌already ⁠lowered global supply by 10%.

"The question now is whether they will begin targeting vessels heading to Saudi ports. At this stage, there’s no clear answer," said Mohammed Albasha, a Yemeni ​analyst and founder ​of Basha Report, ⁠a Washington-based risk advisory firm.

"Even if no ships are attacked, the announcement alone is likely to disrupt shipping ​and create uncertainty for Saudi ports. Whether the ​Houthis move ⁠from threats to direct action remains the critical issue," he said.

The group fired missiles at Saudi Arabia last week after accusing the kingdom of bombing ⁠an ​airport under its control, piercing a four-year ​truce in the conflict between the kingdom and the Iran-aligned group.