Houthi Blockade of Bab al-Mandeb Cuts Saudi Arabia's Last Oil Export Route

Yemen's Houthis declared a naval blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb strait on July 20, 2026. Two Saudi-crude tankers reversed course in the Red Sea on July 22. Saudi Arabia had rerouted millions of barrels daily through Bab al-Mandeb after Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz in April. Both principal Gulf maritime corridors are now degraded or closed.