Houthis Disrupt Red Sea Shipping

Shipping traffic in the Red Sea has been disrupted since last week by Houthi rebels, who are reportedly aiming to block Saudi exports and escalate the conflict between the United States and Iran. This situation, coupled with existing blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, raises concerns about potential impacts on global energy markets.

A military spokesperson for the Houthi group stated that the rebels attacked Saudi Aramco facilities in the cities of Jizan and Yanbu on Saturday. Among the 11 ships that transited the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on Sunday, seven were oil tankers. This included two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) heading to Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port, and one vessel linked to Russia.

Four ships departed the Red Sea, including one VLCC flying the Hong Kong flag, carrying 2 million barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates destined for China. The ongoing actions by the Houthis add another layer of complexity to the already tense maritime security situation in the region.

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The group attacked Saudi Aramco facilities in Jizan and Yanbu cities.