Two crude oil tankers carrying Saudi oil bound for China and India executed U-turns in the Red Sea after Yemen's Houthi militia declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia. The vessels, the Xin Long Yang and the Rodos, had loaded crude at the western Saudi port of Yanbu before turning north toward the Suez Canal to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The route change represents the first verified operational impact on commercial shipping traffic following the militia's threat to attack vessels calling at Saudi ports.
The Houthi militia, which controls northern and western Yemen along the Red Sea coastline, issued formal warning letters to shipping companies. The group warned that any vessel loading or discharging cargo at Saudi ports could be placed on its target list, even after leaving the region. Houthi officials framed the embargo as a direct response to Saudi military actions, declaring the move a "siege for a siege".
Despite the Houthi statement, maritime intelligence reports indicate that the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains open to general international transit, with non-Saudi commercial traffic continuing to navigate the waterway. Vessel tracking data showed that ships calling at other regional ports, such as Jeddah, successfully crossed the strait following the announcement. Security analysts noted that while the Houthis do not physically block the passage, the perceived risk of drone and missile attacks creates a de facto blockade by raising insurance rates and driving commercial diversions.
The threat to the Red Sea shipping channel directly impacts Saudi Arabia's primary alternative export strategy. Amid ongoing disruptions and operational constraints in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia increased its reliance on the East-West Pipeline to transport crude across the Arabian Peninsula to the port of Yanbu. From Yanbu, tankers transit south through Bab el-Mandeb to reach Asian markets. The Houthi embargo places Saudi export infrastructure under simultaneous pressure from the East and the West.
Saudi Arabia firmly rejected the Houthi blockade declaration and condemned the group's actions, emphasizing its intention to safeguard its maritime interests in accordance with international law. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump stated that while the Houthis have not fully closed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Washington remains prepared to intervene if commercial traffic is blocked. Tankers operating out of Yanbu have begun adopting precautionary measures, including turning off automatic identification transponders to reduce visibility while navigating sensitive waters.
