- Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a Saudi oil vessel in the Gulf of Aden, describing it as part of efforts to enforce a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia.
- On Wednesday, shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandeb strait reduced significantly, with only two vessels transiting Hormuz and one in Bab el-Mandeb.
- Only two vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, including a Panama-flagged coal-laden carrier entering and a Marshall Islands-flagged commodity vessel exiting, down from eight vessels a day earlier.
- In the Bab el-Mandeb, only one commodity vessel, a Bahamas-flagged dry bulk carrier, crossed the strait on Wednesday, down from 20 the previous day.
- There was no confirmation from Saudi Arabia on either incident.
- Before February 28, roughly 130 to 140 ships typically transited the Strait of Hormuz.
- On February 28, the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began and Iran closed the strait.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have escalated tensions in the region by claiming missile attacks on Saudi oil tankers, which they assert are part of a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia.1
The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, stated, "This targeting is part of an effort to enforce a maritime blockade on the Saudi enemy." The attacks have led to a significant drop in shipping traffic through critical maritime chokepoints.
On Wednesday, only two vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz, a stark decrease from eight vessels the previous day, according to shipping data from Kpler.236
In the Bab el-Mandeb strait, only one commodity vessel crossed, down from 20 the day before. This decline in shipping activity raises alarms about global energy supplies and regional stability.4
The Houthis have maintained a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia since last month, citing a Saudi siege on Yemen, which Riyadh has denied.
The situation remains precarious, with the potential for further escalation as the Houthis continue their military operations in the region.
Roughly 130 to 140 ships would typically transit the Strait of Hormuz before the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28, highlighting the severity of the current situation.7
“Kpler data shows just two vessels used the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, down from eight a day earlier, and only one crossed Bab el-Mandeb versus 20 previously. The Houthis said the Daisy was hit by a ballistic missile, forcing it to turn back, with no confirmation from Saudi Arabia.”
