Houthis hit tankers to enforce Saudi blockade

The naval blockade of Saudi Arabia by the Iranian-aligned Houthis in Yemen threatens to create a second major chokepoint for global oil supplies, alongside Iran’s near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz

SAUDI ARABIA
EGYPT
IRAN
Persian Gulf
Caspian Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Suez Canal
Arabian Sea
Gulf of Oman
Gulf of Aden
Red Sea
IRAQ
SYRIA
LEB.
YEMEN
UAE
OMAN
DJIBOUTI
ERITREA
ETHIOPIA
SOMALIA
KUWAIT
BAHRAIN
QATAR
TÜRKIYE
ISRAEL
JORDAN
Houthi-controlled territory
Abqaiq

125 miles
200km

East-West Pipeline
Sumed Pipeline

Yanbu port
Saudi Arabia has rerouted millions of barrels of oil per day to Red Sea to bypass Strait of Hormuz. Bab al-Mandeb blockade forces Suez Canal route, adding weeks and transport costs

Northern route
Slow path to Asia

Strait of Hormuz
Transit restricted

Bab al-Mandeb
Houthis strike two oil tankers in Red Sea on July 22, enforcing blockade of Saudi oil

Sources: Reuters, BBC, ISW
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