Sheba Intelligence | July 23, 2026

   Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Transport confirmed that the commercial vessel ENCELIA, operated by a Saudi company, was targeted while sailing in the Red Sea, causing a fire in the vessel’s forward section.

A responsible source at the authority said all crew members were safe and that the relevant agencies had taken the necessary measures to secure the vessel, protect its crew, and prevent potential damage to the marine environment.

The source described the targeting of commercial vessels as a violation of international law and established maritime norms that guarantee the safety of civilian shipping and crews.

Background

The incident follows a coordinated maritime operation previously tracked by Sheba Intelligence, which reported Houthi preparations involving missiles, drones, and unmanned maritime attack platforms as part of a broader escalation in the Red Sea.

Field indicators pointed to movements toward launch and operational sites in Al-Jawf Governorate and along Yemen’s western coast. The preparations appeared intended to support a combined attack against shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Sheba Intelligence reported that the Houthis had prepared a larger and more complex operation than the limited results later acknowledged by the group. International maritime authorities also initially described only a relatively minor incident, suggesting that the first coordinated operation may not have achieved the scale of impact intended by its planners.

The targeting of ENCELIA, however, indicates that the maritime campaign has continued beyond the initial operation and has entered a phase of active attacks against commercial vessels linked to Saudi Arabia.

The incident also follows the Houthi announcement of a ban on Saudi-linked shipping and reinforces concerns that the group is seeking to translate its threats into sustained operational activity across the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.

The attack represents a further escalation against civilian maritime traffic and a direct threat to regional shipping security, international trade routes, and the safety of commercial crews operating in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.