Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid A. Al-Falih said on Thursday that the kingdom would halt all oil shipments through the strait immediately.
The suspension will last "until the situation becomes clearer and maritime transit through Bab al-Mandeb is safe", al-Falih said in a statement.
The minister claimed that Yemeni forces targeted Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, causing damages.
the Saudi-Emirati coalition fighting the group in the war-torn country said also claimed that Houthis targeted Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, causing minor damage to one.
The head of IRGC Quds Force, major general Qasem Soleimani, has emphasized recently that the Red Sea, which used to be quite safe for the Americans in yesteryear, today is no longer considered safe for them.
Saudi crude exports through Bab al-Mandeb are estimated at around 500,000-700,000 barrels per day (bpd), according to analysts and Reuters data. Most Gulf oil exports that transit the Suez Canal and SUMED Pipeline pass through the strait.
Meanwhile, Spokesman of Yemen’s Air Force General Abdullah al-Jafri said that Thursday drone attack on Abu Dhabi's airport had a clear message that members of the Saudi-led military coalition are within the target range of the Yemeni drones and ballistic missiles.
Over the past three years, the Houthis have been running state affairs and defending Yemeni people against the Saudi aggression.
The aggression has killed over 14,000 people and taken a heavy toll on the country's facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.
