Shipping Continues Through Gulf of Aden as Yemen Tensions Escalate

Container ships and oil tankers were visible in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen's coast on Saturday, even as tensions between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed forces continue to mount.

More than a week has passed since the Iran-backed Houthis pushed down Yemen's Red Sea coastline, extending their control to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — a critical maritime chokepoint — and raising concerns over Saudi Arabia's oil exports.

Vessels have kept moving through the strait after the Houthis stated they are only targeting ships linked to Saudi Arabia. Nonetheless, a decline in traffic has been recorded over the past week following the rebels' rapid advance on islands in the waterway.

Many shipping companies had already stopped using the route after Houthi attacks on Israeli-connected vessels began in 2023. Ships from Russia and China, however, appear to be operating without difficulty.

In response to the volatile security situation, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said his government is weighing an expansion of the operations of a naval unit stationed in the Gulf of Aden, off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia, to safeguard the country's vessels and oil shipping lanes.