Yemen’s Houthi rebels, described by multiple outlets as pro-Iranian, say they carry out attacks in the Red Sea that disrupt maritime shipping and oil transport. The group claims it targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and states it will impose a blockade at Bab al-Mandeb, the narrow strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. Bab al-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden in the Indian Ocean and is a major corridor for vessels traveling to and from ports along the Red Sea and beyond.
The accounts highlight the strategic importance of the waterway, sometimes referred to as the “Gate of Tears.” By threatening or announcing a blockade, the Houthis indicate their intention to pressure Saudi Arabia through maritime disruption. Both sources emphasize the same core elements: claimed attacks on Saudi oil tankers, the announced blockade of the strait, and the strait’s role as a key route for oil shipping into the Red Sea.
