According to Reuters, two oil tankers that loaded Saudi crude for China and India made U-turns in the Red Sea on Tuesday and were heading toward the Suez Canal, following a warning from the Houthi militia in Yemen. The report is single-sourced.
Two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude for China and India reversed course in the Red Sea on Tuesday and headed toward the Suez Canal, according to a Reuters report published on Tuesday. The U-turns occurred after a warning from the Iran-backed Houthi militia, which has declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia and threatened Red Sea shipping.
The report follows a series of developments on this story. On Monday, July 20, The Zioneer reported that the Houthis had declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, with an audio recording of orders to Saudi ships emerging. Hours later, a Reuters report stated that the Houthis had sent email warnings to shipping companies to avoid Saudi ports, threatening to target vessels. The same evening, Reuters reported that two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude had reversed course toward the Suez Canal. Shortly after, the Abu Saleh Arab Desk reported that four tankers — the Agios Gerasimos, MICA, NAVIG8 EXPRESS, and Trust — had made the same turn.
The Zioneer has previously covered wider oil movements in the region, including reports of Iranian oil tankers en route to China and Gulf oil shipments via Iranian routes.
The latest Reuters report is single-sourced and has not been independently confirmed. It is unclear whether the two tankers mentioned are the same as those identified in Monday's reports, and no details on their identities or cargo volume have been provided.
10 developments
- DevelopingHouthi military spokesman declared naval blockade against Saudi Arabia
- StrongHouthis attack vessel in Bab el-Mandeb strait
- DevelopingSaudi-adjacent daily: Yemen weighs blocking Bab el-Mandeb to Saudi shipping
- DevelopingHouthi-affiliated news agency claims six ships turned back in Red Sea after blockade warning
Source and signal
- Internal intake