Houthi Attacks Spark Shipping Collapse Through Strategic Waterways
Shipping traffic through two strategic maritime chokepoints has plummeted following claims by Yemen's Houthi movement of missile attacks on Saudi oil tankers. According to shipping data from Kpler, only two vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, down from eight vessels the previous day.
This represents a sharp decline in traffic, as approximately 130-140 ships typically pass through the waterway each day. The Bab el Mandeb Strait has also seen a significant drop in vessel movements, with just one commodity vessel crossing on Wednesday compared to 20 vessels a day earlier.
The Houthi movement claimed missile attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, but Saudi Arabia has not confirmed either attack. Maritime security concerns have intensified as regional shipping remains under pressure following the broader Middle East conflict.