Shipping Traffic Plummets through Key Gulf Chokepoints after Houthi Claims
Shipping traffic through key maritime chokepoints in the Gulf has significantly decreased following claims by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis that they attacked two Saudi oil tankers. According to Kpler, a shipping data provider, only two vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, down from eight the previous day.
The reduction is particularly notable given that about 130-140 ships typically pass through the waterway before the US-Israeli war with Iran began in February and Iran closed the strait. In the Bab el-Mandeb, only one vessel crossed the strait on Wednesday, down from 20 the previous day.
The Houthi claim of missile attacks on Saudi oil tankers has not been confirmed by Riyadh. However, the Houthis have imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea since last month, citing a Saudi siege on Yemen that Riyadh denies.