But that changed Wednesday, when the Houthis fired a missile at a ship in that Strait, killing six people. The ship was a Yemeni commercial vessel and was hit by three ballistic missiles, the report said. However, the Houthis on July 20 announced a maritime blockade on Saudi oil and the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the Southern end of the Red Sea. Author Fatima Abo Alasrar notes that the Houthis warned earlier this year that if Iran were attacked, the Red Sea would run “red with the blood of its enemies.” For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, national security, technology, and the economy.