BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 3. Six Saudi-flagged supertankers have altered their routes in the Gulf of Aden, opting to sail around southern Africa instead of passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, according to ship-tracking data cited by Reuters.
Data from LSEG and MarineTraffic showed the empty tankers, returning from destinations in Asia, travelling in formation toward the Cape of Good Hope rather than entering the southern Red Sea.
The route change comes after Yemen's Houthi movement threatened to target Saudi shipping and announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.
Recent attacks on Saudi-linked vessels have renewed disruption to commercial shipping in the Red Sea, increasing risks for maritime traffic and contributing to higher global oil prices.
The Houthis say their actions are a response to what they describe as Saudi Arabia's blockade of territories under their control.
