A Saudi official has firmly denied reports suggesting Riyadh’s involvement in providing logistical support for U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. In an interview, the official rejected claims that Saudi Arabia is supplying oil for the ongoing military operations against the Iran-backed rebels.
The U.S. President, Donald Trump, had authorized airstrikes aimed at Houthi positions, referring to the group as “terrorists.” U.S. officials anticipate that the strikes will continue for several days, potentially extending into weeks.
The Houthi rebels have been a significant threat to international shipping routes in the region. Since 2023, the group has repeatedly targeted cargo ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which separates northeast Africa from Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula. These attacks, often aimed at vessels connected to Israel and Western nations, have forced numerous shipping companies to reroute their vessels around the African continent, adding an extra 4,000 miles to their journeys, as well as significant delays and increased costs.
The Red Sea, a critical waterway connecting Europe, Asia, and East Africa, is one of the busiest maritime corridors globally, handling about 12% of world trade and 30% of global container traffic. Consequently, any disruption in this area can have far-reaching impacts on fuel prices and the availability of essential commodities and electronics.
As a result of the growing threat, several shipping companies have halted operations in the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Notably, last year, four of the world’s five largest container shipping firms—Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, and MSC—suspended their services in the region, which serves as a vital route for traffic passing through the Suez Canal.
The surge in attacks has raised concerns among shipping companies already wary of piracy, especially in known hotspots. Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization, warned in 2023 about heightened risks in areas like the Gulf of Guinea and the Somali coast, where incidents of piracy have escalated.
In one notable attack, Houthi rebels set fire to a cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden. Additionally, pirates kidnapped the crew of a tanker off the coast of Equatorial Guinea, and a dry bulk carrier sailing in Somali waters was forced to abandon ship after a missile strike.