Saudi Airstrikes Kill Two in Hodeidah as Bab al-Mandeb Shipping Falls 88 Per Cent

Saudi airstrikes struck the port city of Hodeidah on Tuesday, hitting telecommunications infrastructure and killing at least two people, as shipping data shows traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb strait has effectively collapsed with cargo rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope.

Approximately 15 strikes hit Hodeidah on 23 September, targeting telecoms towers in the Al Marawi'ah and Al-Qati' districts and a radio station in Bajil. At least two people were killed and four wounded. Yemen's Houthi forces also claimed they shot down a Saudi Wing Loong II drone over the port of Mocha during the same day's fighting.

The attacks come as shipping data shows the Bab al-Mandeb strait has all but closed to commercial traffic. The strait carries roughly 10 per cent of global maritime trade and 12 per cent of the world's crude oil shipments. It is now seeing only around four ships per day pass through against a historical average of 33, an 88 per cent decline. Oil and chemical tanker transits are down 91 per cent.

The shipping collapse follows Houthi forces completing their takeover of the strait's key approaches, securing Hodeidah province, Mokha, and the surrounding coastline. Houthi forces seized the strategic Hanish Islands in mid-September, extending their grip over the southern Red Sea corridor. Houthi control of Mayun Island, at the strait's western entrance, has raised the security risk assessment for the passage to its highest level.

The wider humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. The United Nations reports that more than 130,000 people have been displaced by the latest fighting across Yemen, on top of the 4.8 million already internally displaced. More than 3,100 people have crossed the Red Sea to Djibouti in recent weeks.

Cargo operators have been diverting through the Cape of Good Hope, adding several weeks to voyage times and raising fuel and charter costs for Europe-Asia and Europe-Middle East routes.