A Greek-owned crude tanker carrying Saudi oil sailed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait undetected as Houthi rebels escalate attacks on vessels.
A Greek-owned oil tanker, the Merbabu, transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait with its transponder off this week after Houthi rebels declared a blockade on Saudi shipments and targeted vessels near Yemen. The move mirrors tactics used in the Strait of Hormuz to avoid detection amid rising regional tensions.
The Red Sea route has faced heightened risks since the Houthis intensified attacks on commercial shipping, disrupting key oil transit lanes. Similar transponder shutdowns occurred earlier this year as shippers sought to evade hostile targeting in the area.
The incident underscores growing disruptions to global oil flows, though immediate market reactions remain limited as traders monitor further developments in the region.