Saudi Arabia's last major oil route comes under Houthi pressure
Saudi Arabia's last major oil route comes under Houthi pressure Submitted by Gaspard Rouffin on Thu, 08/06/2026 - 16:28 Attacks on Saudi ships have had a limited impact so far, but an escalation towards the north of the waterway could increase economic pressure on the kingdom Container ships are seen anchored near the Bab al-Mandab strait off Yemen's coast, in the Gulf of Aden, on 6 August 2026…
Saudi Arabia's primary oil shipping route, the Bab al-Mandab, has come under increasing pressure from Houthi militants, according to recent reports. The Houthis fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker near Yanbu, a major port city in the northern Red Sea, marking the northernmost attack in the ongoing conflict. This escalation is seen as a bid to deny Saudi Arabia the option of rerouting oil shipments through the Suez Canal, a move that could further strain the kingdom's economy.
Analysts have warned that a potential shift in Houthi attacks towards Egypt and the Suez Canal could lead to increasing economic pressure on Saudi Arabia. Since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran, Saudi Arabia has maintained a portion of its oil flows through the Bab al-Mandab alternative route. However, the Houthi blockade of this strait is now limiting this option.
The Houthis have fired ballistic missiles at eight oil tankers since declaring the blockade, at least five of which were Saudi flag vessels. Only four of these attacks have been independently verified by the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre. Saudi authorities have not confirmed any of these strikes.
The Houthis claim to have targeted 29 Saudi vessels during the first two weeks of the blockade, although satellite imagery suggests that some Saudi ships are circumventing the blockade by turning away or turning off their transponders. Despite these evasive maneuvers, oil exports through the Bab al-Mandab still account for around 66 percent of Saudi Arabia's total, while the Red Sea accounts for 10 to 12 percent of global trade.
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