Archive · 3 Aug 2026
Saudi Tankers Cross Red Sea Amid Houthi Embargo
Two big ships from Saudi Arabia, named Lesvos and Desh Vaibhav, went through a narrow waterway called the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
They turned off their tracking radios, so it was hard to see them.
This happened after a group called the Houthis said they would stop all shipping to Saudi Arabia.
Because of this, fewer ships went through the Strait of Hormuz, a very important route for oil.
The UK warned that three more ships had been attacked.
The US President, Donald Trump, said he would start talks with Iran to make the sea safer again.
Lesvos and Desh Vaibhav crossed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait with AIS transponders off, carrying 1 and 2 million barrels of Saudi crude.
The Houthi movement declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia on July 20, increasing shipping caution.
Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to 10 ships on Saturday, down from 19 on Friday.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported three additional tanker attacks since Saturday amid rising tensions.
US President Donald Trump announced that negotiations with Iran would begin on Monday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address Iran's nuclear program.
- Who
- Saudi oil tankers Lesvos and Desh Vaibhav, Houthi movement, UK Maritime Trade Operations, US President Donald Trump
- What
- Tankers crossed Bab el-Mandeb Strait with AIS off; shipping traffic slowed; attacks reported; negotiations with Iran announced
- When
- Over the weekend of July 20‑22, 2024, with negotiations announced for Monday
- Where
- Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz, Sikka port in Gujarat, India
- Why
- Houthi maritime embargo and security concerns prompted caution; diplomatic talks aim to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address Iran's nuclear program
- Event
- Saudi oil tankers cross Bab el-Mandeb Strait amid Houthi embargo
- Date
- July 22, 2024
- Vessels
- Lesvos (Suezmax), Desh Vaibhav (VLCC)
- Cargo
- 1 million barrels (Lesvos), 2 million barrels (Desh Vaibhav)
- Destination
- Sikka port, Gujarat, India (Desh Vaibhav); destination unknown (Lesvos)
- Embargo declared by
- Houthi movement
- Attacks reported
- 3 additional tanker attacks since Saturday
- Negotiations announced by
- US President Donald Trump
