ALBAWABA- Two Saudi crude oil tankers changed course on Tuesday and headed toward the Suez Canal after the Houthi movement announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, according to maritime tracking data cited by Reuters.
According to MarineTraffic vessel-tracking data, two crude oil tankers departing Saudi Arabia have altered their routes following the Houthi announcement of a maritime blockade targeting Saudi shipping.
The Singapore-flagged XIN LONG YANG departed Yanbu port on July 20 at 04:31 UTC with Zhenjiang, China, listed as its destination, before reversing course within the Red Sea. Meanwhile, the Liberia-flagged RODOS departed Yanbu at 23:40 UTC bound for New Mangalore, India, but earlier the same day, at 09:17 UTC, updated its declared destination to the Suez Canal, indicating a route adjustment amid heightened security
The incident comes a day after Yemen's Houthi movement announced a ban on maritime navigation to and from Saudi Red Sea ports, warning that vessels calling at Saudi ports could be targeted. The group said the measure was a retaliatory response to what it described as Saudi Arabia's continued blockade of Yemen and restrictions on its airports and seaports.
The latest escalation follows an incident earlier this month in which forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognized government reportedly struck the runway at Sana'a International Airport to prevent an Iranian Mahan Air flight carrying a Houthi delegation from landing.
The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack and responded by launching missile and drone strikes against Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia. They also announced restrictions on flights to Saudi airports and later extended their campaign to maritime shipping.
According to Houthi officials, shipping companies were notified that vessels loading or unloading cargo at Saudi Red Sea ports could face sanctions and possible military action if they entered areas within the operational range of Houthi forces.
The maritime threats were issued despite mediation efforts led by Oman, Qatar, and UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, which failed to secure a breakthrough and were followed by a rapid deterioration in tensions.
The developments have intensified concerns over the security of the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital maritime corridor linking the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on its Red Sea export terminals, including Yanbu, to bypass disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz by transporting crude through the East-West Pipeline. Sustained disruption to Red Sea shipping could have significant implications for global energy supplies, maritime trade, freight costs, and oil prices.
The latest tensions unfold amid the broader regional confrontation between Iran and the United States, raising fears that Yemen's conflict could become further intertwined with the wider Gulf crisis.
