Red Sea Maritime Traffic Collapses Following Houthi Blockade on Saudi Ports
Shipping traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait plummeted on July 28, 2026, as the Houthi maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia took full effect. Weekly transits fell from an average of 350 to under 125 after the rebels targeted the Aramco refinery in Jizan and export facilities in Yanbu. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree confirmed that the blockade was a response to Saudi military incursions. Analysts report that global crude prices spiked as major tankers made U-turns to avoid the strait, creating a second global energy chokepoint.
Date: July 28, 2026
Location: Yemen
Conflict: Red Sea Crisis
Category: naval
Severity: HIGH
Source: The Hindu