Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday strongly condemned the Houthi militia’s attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and, during a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kingdom’s security and sovereignty.
The development came just hours after the Houthis claimed they had targeted two Saudi oil tankers as part of what they described as a naval blockade.
The Houthi militants in Yemen, who control areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, said they were enforcing a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, a move that some analysts view as part of Iran’s broader strategy to expand its regional influence.
The Houthis said their forces carried out missile and drone strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, identifying them as Ancelia and Laila.
The prime minister said the attacks on the Saudi oil tankers were completely unacceptable, describing them as a blatant violation of international law, a threat to the freedom of navigation and commercial shipping, and detrimental to regional peace, security, and stability.
Held 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 Houthi militia’s attacks…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 23, 2026
Reaffirming Pakistan’s complete solidarity with Saudi Arabia, he said that he, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and the entire Pakistani nation stand firmly with the Saudi leadership and the brotherly people of the Kingdom during this critical time.
The prime minister also reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the security, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and prosperity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Also read: Saudi oil tankers hit in Red Sea after Houthi missile strike
He assured Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that Pakistan would continue to work closely with Saudi Arabia and the international community to promote peace, security, and stability, and to ensure the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime trade in the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and the wider region.
