Lead
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, two of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, has dropped sharply in recent days following Houthi attacks on Saudi oil installations. New data from ship-tracking firm Kpler, reported by the Jerusalem Post and The Hindu, shows vessel transits at their lowest levels in months, as the regional conflict between the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, and Iran continues to disrupt trade.
Coverage Comparison
The Jerusalem Post and The Hindu both reported on the decline in shipping traffic, with slight differences in their framing. The Jerusalem Post's coverage emphasized the broader disruption to regional trade from Houthi attacks and the Iran war, while The Hindu focused on the specific impact of the Houthi attack on Saudi oil installations on Sunday, July 26, 2026. Both outlets cited data from Kpler, with the Jerusalem Post also referencing analytics firm Lloyd's List in its reporting.
Key Claims
According to shipping data from Kpler cited by both the Jerusalem Post and The Hindu, just three vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. This included two vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz—a Panama-flagged coal-laden carrier entering the waterway and a Marshall Islands-flagged commodity vessel exiting—and one Bahamas-flagged dry bulk carrier in the Bab el-Mandeb. The Jerusalem Post noted that this was down from eight vessels a day earlier in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Hindu reported that ship traffic through Bab el-Mandeb fell on Sunday, July 26, 2026, after Houthis attacked Saudi oil installations along the Red Sea coast. Data from Kpler showed that 11 commodity vessels passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that day, the lowest level in months, with seven of those being oil tankers. The Hindu also reported that fewer than 10 commodity vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily over the weekend, despite a pause in strikes between the U.S. and Iran.
On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, the Jerusalem Post reported that 37 commodity ships passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the highest number since July 19. Of those, 20 entered and 17 exited, with none being very large crude carriers (VLCCs) or liquefied natural gas tankers. The same report noted that China has held direct talks with the Houthi movement to enable its tankers to sail through the Red Sea, and that China's largest state-owned tanker operators are withdrawing their VLCCs from Red Sea trade.
The Hindu also reported on the fall in marine traffic through Bab el-Mandeb after the Houthi attack on Sunday, July 26, with 11 vessels passing through the strait. It added that China's largest state-owned tanker operators are pulling their VLCCs from Red Sea trade.
The attacks on Saudi oil installations were reported by both outlets. The Hindu quoted Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree, who claimed the group targeted "a number of sensitive targets and points related to the supply and transport of crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu" in response to Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace. The Jerusalem Post reported that the Houthis had imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, a move they described as a response to a Saudi siege on Yemen, an allegation Riyadh has denied.
Perspectives
Houthi Perspective
The Houthis, as reported by The Hindu, claim their attacks on Saudi oil installations were a response to Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace, targeting sites related to crude oil supply and transport.
Saudi Denial
The Jerusalem Post reported that Saudi Arabia has denied allegations of a siege on Yemen, which the Houthis cited as justification for their naval blockade on the kingdom.