Gulf shipping traffic drops sharply after Houthi attack claims

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, two of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, fell significantly on Wednesday (August 5, 2026) compared with the previous day, according to shipping data provider Kpler.

Only two vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday — a Panama-flagged coal carrier entering the waterway and a Marshall Islands-flagged commodity vessel exiting. This marks a sharp decline from eight vessels a day earlier. Before the onset of the current war between Iran and the United States and Israel on February 28, the strait typically saw 130 to 140 vessels transit daily. Iran has closed the strait in response to the conflict.

In the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, only one commodity vessel — a Bahamas-flagged dry bulk carrier — crossed on Wednesday, down from 20 ships the previous day.

The drop in traffic follows claims by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement that it launched missile attacks on Saudi oil tankers. In a statement on Wednesday, the Houthis said they targeted a Saudi oil tanker off the Red Sea port city of Yanbu and another Saudi oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden. There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi Arabia regarding either incident.

The Houthis have imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea since last month, describing it as a response to what they call a Saudi siege on Yemen. Riyadh has denied the allegation, and the blockade has raised concerns about the security of vital shipping lanes in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb are strategically significant for global energy supplies and international trade. The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for oil shipments from the Gulf states, while the Bab el-Mandeb is essential for vessels moving between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal. The recent reduction in transits highlights the growing impact of regional hostilities on maritime commerce.

Analysts note that the decline in shipping activity could have implications for global oil prices and supply chains, though the situation remains fluid. Shipping companies are likely to reroute vessels or seek safer alternatives, which could lead to increased costs and delays.