JMIC Warns Houthis Have Completed Preparations To Attack Ships Near Bab El-Mandeb

According to CNBC, the U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center warned that Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen have completed preparations to attack ships transiting the southern access point to the Red Sea. The center said the group has deployed missiles and drones near Bab el-Mandeb, while commercial traffic has continued through the area with no attacks in the past two days. The JMIC said the threat to ships remains moderate and that no changes to commercial routing or transit patterns occurred. Kpler said traffic through Bab el-Mandeb fell 34% on Tuesday from Monday, after the Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia. Windward said four tankers with Saudi cargo turned around before reaching Bab el-Mandeb on Tuesday, carrying 3.8 million barrels of crude oil, gasoil and naphtha. The article also said Saudi exports through the Red Sea terminal at Yanbu rose to 3.5 million barrels per day in June from 240,000 barrels per day a year earlier.