Encelia
Saudi oil tanker struck by Houthi missiles and drones in the Bab al-Mandab on 22 July 2026.
The Saudi tanker Encelia was struck by Houthi missiles and drones in the Bab al-Mandab on 22 July, the confirmed half of a two-tanker blockade action that sent Brent crude above $100 within a day.
Last refreshed: 24 July 2026 · Appears in 2 active topics
Why did a Houthi strike on the tanker Encelia send Brent crude above $100?
Timeline for Encelia
Mentioned in: Tanker NCC Masa struck off Al-Shuqaiq
Iran Conflict 2026Houthi blockade cuts Saudi loadings 36%
European Oil MarketsMentioned in: Brent clears $100 first time since May
European Oil MarketsCaught fire on the bow after being struck
Iran Conflict 2026: Houthis fire on the Saudi tanker EnceliaHouthis claim a second tanker, the Layla
Iran Conflict 2026Background
Encelia is a Saudi-flagged oil tanker whose name entered the record on 22 July 2026 as the confirmed casualty of the Houthi blockade of Bab al-Mandab, struck by missiles and drones while the crew escaped injury.
Its confirmation status sets it apart from the Layla, a claimed hit in the same action never verified by Saudi authorities: Encelia is the one fixed data point in an otherwise contested day of claims, the vessel insurers, navies and traders can cite without caveat. The Saudi Press Agency and the General Transport Authority both confirmed the fire, giving the incident an official record the Layla claim still lacks six months on.
Missiles set the tanker's bow alight
Houthi ballistic and Cruise Missiles and drones struck Encelia in the Bab al-Mandab on 22 July, and Saudi Arabia's state news agency confirmed a fire on the bow with the crew reported safe. Encelia is the only one of the two 22 July claims Riyadh has confirmed; a second strike on the tanker Layla, claimed in the same action, remains unverified.
The confirmed hit came alongside a wider blockade that had already cut Saudi crude loadings through the strait by more than a third in a fortnight. Brent Crude crossed $100 a barrel within a day of the strike, its first time above that level since 26 May, with traders tying the jump directly to Encelia's fate rather than to the unconfirmed Layla claim.
What happened to the Saudi tanker Encelia?
Why did Brent crude cross $100 a barrel in July 2026?
Is the crew of the Encelia safe?
How many ships have avoided the Bab al-Mandab strait?
