{"text":[[{"start":6.85,"text":"The Iran-backed Houthi militant group said it had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, in what appears to be its first assault since imposing a naval blockade this week. "}],[{"start":18.1,"text":"In a statement on its Al-Masirah television channel, a spokesman for the Yemen-based group said it hit the ships Encelia and Layla, accusing them of violating the group’s blockade of the Red Sea. "}],[{"start":29.900000000000002,"text":"Oil prices climbed on Thursday, with Brent crude, the international benchmark, gaining 2 per cent to $95.95 a barrel. Oil has risen by about 30 per cent since the start of July amid a flare-up in the conflict between Washington and Tehran."}],[{"start":46.650000000000006,"text":"In a statement, the Yemeni rebels said the operation used cruise missiles and drones, claiming “precise” strikes on both vessels that caused fires to break out on board. Naval operations against Saudi Arabia would continue, they added. "}],[{"start":61.550000000000004,"text":"They also said Yemeni armed forces had made about 10 ships “retreat and return”."}],[{"start":68.2,"text":"The rebels warned that any escalation or military action against Yemen would be met with major operations “deep within” Saudi territory, cautioning against further escalation."}],[{"start":79.4,"text":"UK maritime authorities said they had received a report of an incident 70 miles off the coast of Saudi Arabia, in which the crew of a tanker said it had been struck by an unknown projectile."}],[{"start":null,"text":"
"}],[{"start":90.5,"text":"The Bab al-Mandab chokepoint has become vital for Saudi Arabia’s crude exports to Asia since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in its war with the US and Israel."}],[{"start":100.8,"text":"The kingdom has been using an east-west pipeline to Yanbu port on the Red Sea, from where it has exported nearly 4.9mn barrels of crude a day, according to data from energy data company Kpler."}],[{"start":112.5,"text":"The Houthi entry into the Iran conflict had the potential to “expand the war’s supply losses” by reducing the effectiveness of the east-west pipeline route, said Helima Croft, analyst at RBC, in a note. "}],[{"start":125.3,"text":"“We think a sustained deployment of force would cause a material reduction in total Red Sea oil flows,” Croft said. “It could also shift the sentiment of ‘the market always finds a workaround’ camp.”"}],[{"start":136.8,"text":"This is a developing story"}],[{"start":144.9,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1784788496_7893.mp3"}