Shipping traffic through two of the Middle East’s most important maritime chokepoints, the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el Mandeb, fell sharply after Yemen’s Iran aligned Houthi group claimed attacks on Saudi linked tankers.

Kpler shipping data showed only two vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, down from eight the previous day. One Panama flagged coal carrier entered the waterway, while a Marshall Islands flagged commodity vessel exited.

Before the US Israeli war with Iran began on February 28, roughly 130 to 140 vessels typically passed through Hormuz each day. The waterway has remained severely disrupted since Iran moved to close the strait in response to the conflict.

Traffic through Bab el Mandeb also dropped dramatically. Just one Bahamas flagged dry bulk carrier crossed the strait on Wednesday, compared with 20 vessels a day earlier.

Houthis Claim Attacks On Saudi Tankers

The Houthis said they launched a missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker off Yanbu, a major Red Sea port, and carried out another missile strike against a Saudi tanker in the Gulf of Aden.

Saudi authorities have not immediately confirmed the reported attacks.

The claims come after the Houthis announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi linked shipping, escalating concerns over the security of commercial routes connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Recent attacks and threats have already prompted shipping operators to reconsider routes through the region, with some vessels opting for longer journeys around the Cape of Good Hope.

Growing Pressure On Regional Shipping

The latest decline in traffic highlights the mounting pressure on maritime trade as risks increase at both ends of the Arabian Peninsula.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global energy supplies, while Bab el Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and provides a key passage towards the Suez Canal.

With shipping companies facing heightened security risks, disruptions at both chokepoints could further increase transport costs, insurance premiums and pressure on global energy markets.