reiterates Pakistan’s unwavering support for the kingdom’s security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on April 29, 2022. Photo: Reuters
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday condemned attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea during a phone 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 heinous attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, saying such actions were completely unacceptable, constitute a clear violation of international law, threaten freedom of navigation and commercial shipping, and undermine regional peace and security,” the Prime Minister said (PMO statement).
The statement came hours after the Houthis hit two Saudi Arabian 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 broader regional tensions.
The PMO statement further said that Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stating that “he, along with the Chief of Defense and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and the entire nation of Pakistan, stand 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 will 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 trade in the Red Sea, the 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.
“Taking the opportunity, the Prime Minister conveyed his warm greetings and best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,” the statement added.
Had a telephone conversation with my dear brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this morning.
I condemned in the strongest possible terms the attack by the Houthi militia…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 23, 2026
The phone call came amid heightened regional tensions following attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, a key global trade route.
The State Department also issued a statement on Wednesday condemning “unequivocally” the continued threats by the Houthi militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, warning that such actions endanger global trade and regional security.
Read: Houthis say they attacked Saudi tankers in Red Sea as US ends 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 carrying Saudi oil for China and India made U-turns on Tuesday.
Houthis attack 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 Encelia and Layla. Saudi State News Agency SPA quoted an official source as saying that Encelia was hit, causing a fire at the bow. The attack on Layla remained unconfirmed.
A maritime security source said the Encelia had sent a distress call and reported it had been hit by a missile near the Saudi port of Jizan in the Red Sea late Wednesday. Millions of barrels of Saudi oil per day have been heading to the kingdom’s Red Sea port of Yanbu to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. If shipments cannot pass through the southern straits of the Red Sea, 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, shipping from the Red Sea
The Houthi threat to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia could significantly expand the war and strain the U.S. military, current and former U.S. officials said. Two Chinese very large oil tankers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil were heading for the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Thursday, shipping data showed.
The complete 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 supplies by 7%.
The Iran war has already reduced global supply by 10%.
“The question now is whether they will start targeting ships bound for Saudi ports. At this point there is no clear answer,” said Mohammed Albasha, a Yemeni analyst and founder of the 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 question,” he said.
The group fired missiles at Saudi Arabia last week after accusing the kingdom of bombing an airport under its control, puncturing a four-year ceasefire in the conflict between the kingdom and the Iran-aligned group.
