Houthi claim 8 Saudi tankers turned away from Red Sea
The move adds to shipping and energy-supply risks in the Red Sea-Bab al-Mandab amid Houthi attacks and Saudi airstrikes.
Houthi group in Yemen claimed eight oil tankers owned by Saudi Arabia changed route from the Red Sea toward the Cape of Good Hope amid the latest escalation on the shipping lane. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the diversion was part of a “blockade for blockade” strategy after the group tightened its ban on vessels linked to Saudi Arabia. On 20 July, Houthi announced a maritime ban on Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea and since then has claimed to fire missiles and drones at ships and energy infrastructure. At the same time, the Saudi-led coalition resumed open airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, described as the first official acknowledgment since 2022. The development has raised fresh concerns over security in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.