According to a Reuters report cited by Israeli media, two oil tankers that loaded Saudi crude this week destined for China and India reversed course in the Red Sea and began sailing toward the Suez Canal, following Houthi threats to target vessels calling at Saudi ports.
Tuesday afternoon, two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude destined for China and India reversed course in the Red Sea and began sailing toward the Suez Canal, following Houthi threats to target vessels calling at Saudi ports, according to a Reuters report cited by Israeli media. The development comes a day after the Houthis sent emails to shipping companies warning them to avoid Saudi ports, as The Zioneer reported on Monday evening.
The Houthi threat to Red Sea shipping escalated over the past 24 hours. On Monday evening, The Zioneer reported that the Houthis had sent direct email warnings to shipping companies, threatening to target any vessel that calls at Saudi ports. That report by Reuters marked a shift from earlier unverified claims: earlier on Monday, Shia channels circulated an audio recording purportedly of Houthi forces ordering Saudi ships to turn back, and an analysis published on gplanet.co.il claimed the Houthis had imposed a full blockade threatening Saudi oil exports and the Neom project. Those claims came from a single source and were not independently confirmed. By Monday evening, the direct email warnings provided a more concrete indication of Houthi intent, and now the tanker diversion appears to be a tangible consequence.
The Houthis have repeatedly threatened Saudi oil infrastructure in recent weeks. As The Zioneer reported on July 13, a Houthi political council member warned of strikes deep into Saudi territory, giving Riyadh a 'short time' to lift the blockade. Background items also show Houthi attacks on tankers near the Gulf of Aden (June 17) and threats to airlines (July 14). The Red Sea remains a key global shipping route, and the Houthi campaign, backed by Iran, continues to disrupt maritime traffic.
It remains unclear whether the two tankers will proceed through the Suez Canal or if other vessels will follow suit. The Houthi email warning did not specify a timeframe, and it is not known if the tankers' operators received direct threats. The reports rely on a single Reuters source, though the email warning was an official Houthi communication.
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