Houthis claim they forced eight Saudi tankers to divert around Africa
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Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed on Friday it forced eight Saudi oil tankers to reroute via the Cape of Good Hope, citing an intensified naval blockade. The assertion escalates tensions in the Red Sea shipping corridor even as 43 nations gathered in Riyadh to finalize a multinational maritime defense coalition.
The Houthi Claim
In a statement published on Friday, the Houthi group said it forced eight Saudi-owned oil tankers to divert around Africa’s southern tip. The action, it said, was part of a ‘blockade for blockade’ strategy to pressure Saudi Arabia. The Houthis have steadily escalated attacks on shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023, targeting vessels they claim are linked to Israel, the US or Saudi Arabia. No independent verification of the tanker diversions was immediately available.
Maritime Security Coalition
Meanwhile, military chiefs from 43 countries met in Riyadh on the same day to advance a Saudi-led initiative for a multinational maritime defense coalition. The meeting reviewed a draft charter, command structure and operational mechanisms for the proposed force, which would cover the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The coalition aims to protect international shipping from Houthi attacks that have disrupted global trade routes and forced many vessels to take the longer, costlier route around Africa.
What's Next
The Houthi statement warned of continued attacks on Saudi vessels wherever they can be reached. The coalition is expected to begin operations in the coming months, but it remains unclear whether its presence will deter further assaults on commercial shipping.
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Houthis claim they forced eight Saudi tankers to divert around Africa
