Reiterates Pakistan’s unwavering support for the security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity of the Kingdom
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif upon arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 29, 2022. Photo: Reuters
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday condemned attacks carried out by the Houthi militia on 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 cowardly attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, saying that such actions were totally unacceptable, constitute a clear violation of international law, threaten freedom of navigation and commercial shipping and undermine regional peace, security and stability,” said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The statement came hours after the Houthis attacked two Saudi 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 against 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 full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and stated that “he, along with the Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and the entire Pakistani nation, firmly and resolutely stands with the Saudi leadership and the brotherly people of the Kingdom at this critical juncture.”
The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity of Saudi Arabia.
“The Prime Minister assured MBS that Pakistan would continue to work very closely with the Kingdom, as well as the international community, in support of peace, security, stability and the uninterrupted flow of legal 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 strong support and close brotherly ties between the two countries.
“Seizing 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.
This morning I 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.
I condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the attacks by the Houthi militia…
– Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 23, 2026
The phone conversation came amid rising regional tensions following attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, a key global trade route.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement on Wednesday, “unequivocally” condemning the continued threats issued 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: The Houthis say they attacked Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea as the United States concludes its 12th day of attacks on Iran.
Five tankers changed course in the Red Sea to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Wednesday, and three tankers loaded with Saudi oil for China and India made U-turns on Tuesday.
Houthis attack Saudi oil tankers
Earlier today, the Houthis said their forces carried out missile and drone attacks 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 the Encelia was hit, causing a fire in the bow. The attack on Layla remains unconfirmed.
A maritime security source said Encelia had transmitted a distress call, reporting that it had been hit by a missile near the Saudi Red Sea port of Jizan late on Wednesday. Millions of barrels per day of Saudi oil 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 strait of the Red Sea, they only have the northern route through the Suez Canal, adding weeks and costs to the journey.
Read more: FO condemns Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping
The Houthi threat to impose a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia could significantly expand the war and put pressure on the US military, current and former US officials said. Two large Chinese crude oil tankers collectively carrying 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil were heading toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Thursday, shipping data showed.
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 supply by 7%.
The Iran war has already reduced global supply by 10%.
“The question now is whether they will start attacking ships heading to Saudi ports. Right now, there is no clear answer,” said Mohammed Albasha, a Yemeni analyst and founder of 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 in Saudi ports. The critical question remains whether the Houthis move from threats to direct action,” he said.
The group fired missiles at Saudi Arabia last week after accusing the kingdom of bombing an airport under its control, breaking a four-year truce in the conflict between the kingdom and the Iran-aligned group.
