Two Chinese supertankers carrying Saudi oil head for Red Sea exit
Two Chinese supertankers carrying Saudi oil are navigating the Red Sea despite a naval blockade imposed by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. The transit serves as a high-stakes test of the Houthi blockade following recent attacks on Saudi vessels in the region.
Why it matters
The situation threatens global energy supply chains and highlights the escalating maritime tensions between regional powers and Houthi forces.
The Red Sea blockade by the Iran-aligned Houthis has threatened to further disrupt global energy supplies. (AFP pic)
SINGAPORE: Two Chinese very large crude carriers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil are heading toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait to exit the Red Sea on Thursday, shipping data showed, even as a Saudi vessel came under attack in the region.
The ships' attempt to transit the strait will clearly test how tightly the Houthis will impose the naval blockade on Saudi Arabia they announced on Monday.
The group said they attacked two Saudi tankers with drones and missiles earlier on Thursday.
The Red Sea blockade by the Iran-aligned Houthis threatens to further disrupt global energy supplies at the same time the key Strait of Hormuz has practically shut amid the resumption of fighting between the US and Iran.
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