Houthi Attacks Threaten Global Oil Trade Through Key Red Sea Chokepoint

The Houthi group in Yemen has claimed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, near Yanbu port and in the Gulf of Aden. The attacks follow a recent announcement by Saudi Arabia of a naval blockade on its shipping. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is a critical chokepoint for global trade, carrying approximately 66% of Saudi oil cargo and around 10-12% of global trade.

The narrow strait, only 29 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, makes it vulnerable to attacks. Renewed threats could force tankers onto longer alternative routes, adding weeks to journeys and increasing freight and fuel costs worldwide.