Ship traffic in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait experienced a sharp decline due to increasing security threats. Data from maritime tracking company Kpler revealed that the number of transits, which stood at 28 on Friday, fell to 18 by Sunday.
This sharp drop coincides with reports of an attack on a vessel in the strategic waterway. The critical passage, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, has been a point where Yemeni forces have targeted ships linked to Saudi Arabia and Israel during regional conflicts.
The data also confirmed that two Saudi oil tankers successfully transited the strait earlier in the week. However, analysts warn that ongoing security incidents could further disrupt the passage of all commercial vessels, including oil tankers, through this vital chokepoint.