Traffic in Bab al-Mandab Strait Drops 56 Percent After Houthi Blockade of Saudi Ships

Commercial shipping traffic in the Bab al-Mandab Strait has dropped by 56 percent following the Houthi movement’s announcement of a naval blockade on Saudi ships, according to data obtained by Emirati newspaper The National from analytics firm Kpler. On Sunday, approximately 15 commercial vessels passed through the strait, a significant decline from the 34 ships recorded on Monday, 20 July, when the Houthis declared the embargo.

The Kpler data showed that nine of the vessels were exiting the Red Sea, while six were entering. The Houthis imposed the blockade in response to Saudi Arabia’s control of Yemeni airspace and the targeting of Sanaa airport. A Yemeni source told Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen television that since the blockade was enforced, not a single Saudi oil tanker has transited the Bab al-Mandab Strait from either direction. The source added that 16 Saudi ships had been forced to turn back over the past six days.