Houthi militants in Yemen have declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia and are prepared to attack ships in the southern Red Sea, according to a notice from the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) on July 22, 2026 [1]. The Houthis have deployed missiles and drones near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and global markets [1]. The JMIC, a maritime security group led by the U.S. Navy, warned that the Houthis have completed preparations to attack shipping, citing sources close to the group [1].
The embargo, announced on Monday, threatens to cut off Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, which have served as a crucial alternative route for global oil markets amid ongoing Iranian attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz [1]. Riyadh has responded by diverting millions of barrels per day of oil through a pipeline to the Yanbu terminal on the Red Sea, with exports from that terminal through Bab el-Mandeb surging to 3.5 million barrels per day in June, up from 240,000 barrels per day in the same period last year, according to Kpler data [1].
Despite the heightened threat, commercial traffic has continued through the southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, with no attacks reported in the past two days, and the JMIC assessing the threat to ships as "moderate" [1]. The JMIC stated, "No changes to commercial routing or transit patterns occurred, and vessels continued to use established lanes without disruption" [1]. However, ship tracking firm Kpler observed a 34% decline in traffic through Bab el-Mandeb on Tuesday compared with Monday, when the embargo was declared [1]. Additionally, four tankers carrying Saudi cargo turned around before reaching Bab el-Mandeb on Tuesday, carrying a total of 3.8 million barrels of crude oil, gasoil, and naphtha, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward [1].
Meanwhile, Iran has intensified its attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, with three tankers coming under attack off the coast of Oman and the United Arab Emirates this week [1]. Since July 6, a dozen ships have been attacked in and around Hormuz, resulting in fatalities [1].
CONCLUSION
The Houthi declaration of a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia and the deployment of missiles and drones near Bab el-Mandeb have significantly heightened risks to regional shipping and global oil flows. While no attacks have occurred in the past two days, a notable decline in traffic and the rerouting of tankers underscore the market's sensitivity to these developments. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing threats in both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz impacting global energy security.