Red Sea

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of an "all-out invasion" of its northern Tigray region, saying Eritrean forces advanced up to 60km into Ethiopian territory to support Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels. Independent analyses estimate 5,000 to 8,000 Eritrean soldiers crossed the border before being stopped by Ethiopian drone strikes and withdrawing. Both governments have written to the UN Security Council accusing each other of aggression. The International Crisis Group warns the two neighbours are edging toward full-scale war that could destabilise the Red Sea region.

6 reports · 3 sources · Updated Oct 12, 07:44 PM UTC

Saudi Arabia has completed repairs on its East-West Pipeline, damaged in a drone attack earlier this month, and resumed oil exports through the route. The pipeline, which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, connects eastern oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Saudi Aramco tested and pressurized the pipeline last week, restoring substantial flows. Some European customers had been informed they would receive no crude allocations next month due to tight supply. Tanker loading at Yanbu had not yet resumed as of some reports.

22 reports · 9 sources · Updated Sep 28, 11:30 AM UTC

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is urging member states to redirect naval vessels originally pledged for a stalled Strait of Hormuz mission to the Red Sea, where the EU's Aspides escort operation faces strain from Houthi attacks. Kallas warned the situation has worsened, requiring more than 10 warships. EU defense ministers are scheduled to meet to discuss enhancing Aspides capabilities, though member states have so far refused to reinforce the mission.

6 reports · 2 sources · Updated Sep 28, 11:05 AM UTC

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on September 24, 2026, that France will deploy troops, radar systems, and defense systems to protect the Yanbu oil terminal on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast from Houthi missile and drone attacks. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated the deployment is strictly defensive, not making France a co-belligerent. The move aims to secure a critical alternative oil export route bypassing the blocked Strait of Hormuz and stabilize global energy supplies.

27 reports · 14 sources · Updated Sep 27, 02:35 PM UTC

Yemen's Houthi group announced on September 23 that 408 commercial ships passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between September 11 and 21, up from 393 in the prior 11-day period. The Houthi-controlled Masirah TV reported the group claimed international shipping, except for Saudi vessels, continues normally. However, independent ship tracking data cited in reports indicates traffic has fluctuated, with significant daily declines at times. The Houthis have recently intensified their offensive, capturing Mocha and Perim Island, and declared a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia.

5 reports · 4 sources · Updated Sep 24, 01:11 AM UTC

Saudi Aramco has informally told at least three Asian refiners that crude loading at the Red Sea port of Yanbu may resume soon, after a September 10 drone attack from Iraq shut the East-West pipeline. The pipeline, which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, normally carries up to 7 million barrels per day. Aramco is working to restore half capacity within days and full capacity in six weeks. European buyers have been told their October allocations are canceled.

15 reports · 7 sources · Updated Sep 22, 11:09 AM UTC

US officials met with Houthi representatives in Muscat, Oman, over the weekend of September 12-13, 2025. The Houthis pledged not to attack US or Israeli vessels, only Saudi Arabian ships, and expressed willingness to maintain a ceasefire. The talks followed a Houthi offensive that seized strategic Red Sea coastal areas.

11 reports · 4 sources · Updated Sep 21, 04:31 PM UTC

Following a drone attack that shut down its East-West pipeline, Saudi Arabia has shifted crude exports to the Persian Gulf, selling approximately 60 million barrels for ship-to-ship transfer at Oman's Sohar port. Main buyers are Chinese and South Korean refiners, with some volumes to India and Japan. Gulf exports have recovered to 1-1.5 million barrels per day, helping suppress global oil prices. Saudi Arabia is working to restore half the pipeline's capacity within days.

10 reports · 9 sources · Updated Sep 21, 04:18 PM UTC

Saudi Arabia’s exports through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have fallen sharply, with weekly traffic since early August dropping to less than one-third of the 2023 seven-day average. Shipping data firm Kpler reported only five ships carrying Saudi products passed through in the past seven days, down from a weekly high of 11 in late July. The decline is attributed to Houthi armed forces expanding influence on the Red Sea coast, disrupting shipping through this critical chokepoint for Saudi oil exports.

5 reports · 3 sources · Updated Sep 18, 05:50 PM UTC

Iran-backed Houthi rebels captured the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha and Perim Island from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, advancing within 75 km of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The rapid offensive broke a years-long defensive line, giving the Houthis de facto control over the critical chokepoint for global oil and trade. Saudi Arabia shut down a pipeline in response. At least 46,000 civilians have been displaced, and oil prices surged above $100 per barrel.

29 reports · 8 sources · Updated Sep 16, 03:32 PM UTC

Iran-backed Houthi militants have seized Perim Island and the port city of Mocha in Yemen, gaining effective control over the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The advance threatens global maritime trade and oil shipments, with diesel prices reaching a record $6 per gallon in the U.S. The United Nations reports at least 46,000 people displaced in Yemen since fighting escalated last week.

7 reports · 5 sources · Updated Sep 14, 10:32 PM UTC

Saudi Arabia shut down its East-West crude oil pipeline after a drone attack launched from Iraq triggered fires at pumping stations. The pipeline, which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, had been transporting 4-5 million barrels per day. The attack coincided with Houthi rebels seizing Perim Island and tightening control over the Bab el-Mandab Strait. Iraq confirmed the attack originated from its territory, dismissed a military commander, and seized a drone-launching platform. Oil prices rose above $100 per barrel.

27 reports · 7 sources · Updated Sep 13, 04:52 PM UTC