Saudi halts oil exports through Bab El-Mandeb after Houthi attack

Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted all oil shipments through Bab El-Mandeb Strait with immediate effect following an attack by Yemeni Houthi rebels on two of its large crude carriers, Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, said in a statement published by Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The two very large crude carriers (VLCCs), each carrying 2 million barrels of oil, belong to the Saudi National Shipping Co. One of the two was hit and suffered minor damage, but there were no injuries or oil spills as a result, the minister said.

Efforts are currently underway to move the damaged ship to the nearest Saudi port, Al-Falih said, stressing "this terrorist act deters the freedom of navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and Bab-El-Mandeb Strait."

In a separate statement, state-owned Saudi Aramco said: "In the interest of the safety of ships and their crews and to avoid the risk of oil spill, Saudi Aramco has temporarily halted all oil shipments through Bab El-Mandeb Strait with immediate effect.”

The oil giant said it was “carefully assessing the situation and would take further action as prudence demands."

Meanwhile, SPA quoted Yemeni Vice President Lt. Gen. Ali Mohsen calling the Houthi attack against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea as a terrorist act.