Houthis Attack Saudi Oil Tankers, Saudi Arabia Suspends Oil Shipments.

By Chase Lacy Rabat-Saudi Arabia announced a temporary suspension of oil shipments Thursday after two oil tankers were attacked by Houthis in the Red Seas Bab al-Mandeb strait on Wednesday. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said the suspension will continue until the situation becomes clearer and maritime transit through Bab al-Mandeb is safe.

State-owned oil company Aramco released a statement confirming that two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) with holding capacities of up to two million barrels, operated by the Bahri shipping company, were attacked by Yemens Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. He claimed that one of the ships had sustained minor damage, but no damage or oils spills had been reported.

On Wednesday, the Houthi-run network Almasirah reported that Houthi forces had launched a missile attack on a warship named the Dammam along Yemens western coast. Bob Cavnar, an oil expert, told Al Jazeera that any delay of shipments leading to even small shortages would have repercussions globally.

Late on Wednesday, Brent Crude had risen 1.57 percent since the attack to $74.59 a barrel.

Saudi Arabias response yesterday stand in contrast to its response to a similar event in April when a tanker dubbed the Abaqiq was attacked. At that time, al-Falih calmed fears saying that shipments would continue as normal.

The 20-kilometer-wide strait is...