Houthi Blockade Fails to Stop Saudi Oil Tankers in Bab al-Mandeb Strait

Two Saudi oil tankers have successfully navigated through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait despite threats of a Houthi blockade. The Houthi group, backed by Iran, had announced plans to block ships related to Saudi Arabia, but two vessels carrying approximately 4 million barrels of Saudi crude oil managed to pass through the strait.

The Xin Long Yang, flying the Singaporean flag, and the Cosnew Lake, flying the Hong Kong flag, were tracked by Marine Traffic as they traveled through the Gulf of Aden near the coast of Yemen. This comes after the Houthi group claimed to have attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, allegedly implementing their maritime blockade.

Marisx, a maritime security risk analysis organization, has warned that the Houthis may broaden their definition of what constitutes a 'Saudi-related ship', potentially targeting foreign flag carriers with ties to Saudi commercial interests. Meanwhile, the UK's UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that international merchant ships have continued to pass through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait without issue.