On Sunday, July 26, 2026, maritime traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait dropped to its lowest level in months, with only 11 raw material vessels transiting the route. This decline follows attacks by the Yemen-based Houthi movement against Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure along the Red Sea coast. Data from the analytics firm Kpler indicates that of the vessels involved, seven were oil tankers, with three entering the Red Sea, including two very large crude carriers heading toward Saudi ports.

This disruption is part of a broader escalation as the Houthi movement, which is aligned with Iran, seeks to enforce a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. The incident adds to existing tensions that have already led to a de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, effectively opening a new front in the ongoing regional conflict involving the United States and Iran. The situation continues to present significant challenges to maritime logistics in the Red Sea region.