This surge
was triggered by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement claiming responsibility
for an attack on two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea on July 23.
The
Houthis stated that they launched missiles and drones targeting the tankers Encelia and Layla in the Red Sea.
Saudi
Arabia's state news agency SPA, citing an official source, reported that the Encelia was struck, causing a fire in
the vessel's bow.
British
maritime risk management firm Vanguard also confirmed that a projectile hit the
Encelia. The reported attack on
the Layla has not yet been
confirmed.
This marks
the first attack by the Iran-backed group since declaring a "maritime
embargo" against Saudi Arabia.
Following
the Houthis' actions, Brent crude rose by 6 percent on Thursday, climbing above
$100 per barrel. According to Bloomberg, crude prices are facing additional
upward pressure due to reduced output from the closure of Kazakhstan's Caspian
Pipeline Consortium terminal on Russia's Black Sea coast, declining global
reserves, and escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, reported by Kazinform.
