Houthis threaten Saudi sea blockade as Red Sea oil route comes under strain

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis threatened to impose a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, raising the risk of fresh disruption in the Red Sea as Gulf energy flows are already under pressure from turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz. The move could jeopardize traffic through Bab el-Mandeb, the southern entrance to the Red Sea and a vital corridor for oil shipments. Saudi Arabia has diverted more than 70% of its normal crude exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu after Hormuz was disrupted. Shipments from Yanbu recently averaged 4 million barrels a day, while total petroleum volumes moving through Bab el-Mandeb reached 7.4 million barrels a day in June, according to Kpler. The threat followed renewed fighting in Yemen after the internationally recognized government said it struck Sanaa airport.