Houthis' Blockade on Bab el-Mandeb Threatens Global Oil Supplies

The Houthis are intensifying their efforts to disrupt Saudi oil exports through the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea. According to data from intelligence firm Kpler, only eleven commodity ships passed through the waterway on Sunday, a significant decrease from previous months.

This slowdown is attributed to ongoing attacks by the Houthis on Saudi oil facilities along the Red Sea coast. As a result, some tankers are opting for a longer route, sailing through the Suez Canal instead of risking passage through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

The Danish-flagged tanker Torm Innovation is one such vessel that has chosen to divert its course, citing security concerns in the southern part of the Red Sea. The journey now takes around 30 days longer, as ships are forced to navigate through the Suez Canal and around the Cape to reach their destinations.