Ship‑tracking data on Monday showed that 6 Saudi‑flagged supertankers altered course in the Gulf of Aden, steering away from the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea amid threats from Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthi movement, Reuters reported. According to data from the London Stock Exchange Group and the MarineTraffic platform, the vessels returning empty from Asian destinations sailed in formation toward South Africa instead of transiting Bab al‑Mandeb. The move followed Houthi warnings to shipping companies that vessels dealing with Saudi ports would be targeted. Since November 2023, the Houthis have carried out attacks using missiles, drones, and explosive‑laden boats against commercial ships, leveraging their control of Yemen’s coastline to threaten one of the world’s most vital trade and energy corridors.