Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Hormuz Traffic Falls; Tanker Attacks Rise, Houthis Claim Riyadh Strike
Fewer ships than usual are passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The number fell after attacks on tankers increased.
Kpler counted seven commodity ships crossing on Tuesday, though another data service counted eight vessels.
Oil exports from other nearby routes increased and helped make up for the lower flow through Hormuz.
A tanker was hit north of Qatar, and casualties were reported.
Yemen's Houthi group said it fired a missile at an airport in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia had said an earlier attack on the airport killed one person.
It had not immediately confirmed the Houthis' latest claim.
Seven commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, the lowest daily count since July 23, according to Kpler.
Kpler said crude crossing Hormuz fell 27% from the previous week's wartime high to at least 10.1 million barrels per day.
Exports from the Gulf of Oman coast and the Red Sea rose to 6.7 million barrels per day, helping keep Middle East crude exports at pre-war levels.
Maritime security sources said tanker attacks in the strait reached their highest weekly total since the Iran war began; a tanker was struck north of Qatar on Wednesday, with casualties reported.
Yemen's Houthis claimed they attacked Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile; Saudi Arabia had reported a fatal attack there earlier in the week, but did not immediately confirm the latest claim.
- Who
- Ships and tankers using the Strait of Hormuz; Yemen's Houthi group and Saudi Arabia.
- What
- Hormuz vessel traffic fell as tanker attacks rose, while the Houthis claimed an attack on Riyadh airport.
- When
- Traffic was reported for Tuesday and Wednesday; the Houthis made their claim on Thursday.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz, waters north of Qatar, and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The articles link the traffic decline to increased tanker attacks; the reason for the Houthis' claimed airport attack is not stated.
Houthi account
Saudi confirmation status
Claimed Riyadh airport attack
Houthi account
The Houthis said they attacked King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile.
Saudi confirmation status
Saudi Arabia did not immediately confirm the latest Houthi claim; it had separately said an attack on the airport earlier in the week killed one person.
- Hormuz crossings Tuesday
- Kpler counted seven commodity vessels, the lowest figure since July 23; LSEG counted eight vessels.
- Crude through Hormuz
- At least 10.1 million barrels per day, down 27% from the previous week's wartime high and 74% of the pre-war level.
- Alternative-route exports
- Exports from the Gulf of Oman coast and the Red Sea rose to 6.7 million barrels per day.
- Overall Middle East crude exports
- Analysts said they remained at the pre-war level.
- Tanker incident
- Projectiles struck a tanker 51 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal, Qatar, on Wednesday; casualties were reported.
- Riyadh airport claim
- The Houthis said on Thursday they attacked King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile; Saudi Arabia had not immediately confirmed the latest claim.
- Pre-war vessel traffic
- About 125 large commercial vessels crossed the strait per day before the Iran war began on February 28.