Key Takeaways
- Shipping through key Gulf straits reduced significantly.
- Houthis reported launching missile attacks on Saudi oil tankers.
- No confirmation from Saudi Arabia regarding the incidents.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb, critical maritime choke points in the Gulf, decreased sharply on Wednesday. According to shipping data from Kpler, only two vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz, compared to eight the previous day.
In the Bab el-Mandeb, just one commodity vessel crossed the strait, down from 20 the previous day. These reductions reflect a notable decline in maritime activity through these vital waterways.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for launching missile attacks on two Saudi oil tankers. The first attack targeted a Saudi tanker off the coast of Yanbu in the Red Sea, while the second struck a vessel in the Gulf of Aden.
However, there was no official confirmation from Saudi Arabia regarding these incidents. The Houthis have been imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea since last month, citing what they describe as a Saudi siege on Yemen.
The reduction in shipping traffic is part of ongoing tensions between regional powers and highlights the vulnerability of international trade routes through these straits. The attacks come amid heightened geopolitical tensions following the US-Israeli war with Iran that began on February 28.
Prior to the conflict, approximately 130 to 140 ships would typically transit the Strait of Hormuz daily before the escalation in hostilities and subsequent Iranian actions.
The incident underscores the ongoing risks faced by maritime trade in the region and the potential for further disruptions. The shipping community remains vigilant as tensions continue to simmer between various parties involved.
