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Ahmad al-Sharaa  ·  2026-08-06 00:00

Maritime traffic through Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab straits decline sharply

Capitals, Aug. 6 (SANA)Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait declined sharply on Wednesday compared with the previous day, according to data released by ship-tracking companyKpler, following reports of attacks targeting vessels in the region.In a post on X, Kpler said only two vessels transited theStrait of Hormuz. One entered the waterway carrying coal under the Panama flag, while the second departed carrying commodities under the Marshall Islands flag. The figure was down from eight vessels that crossed the strait the previous day.Traffic through theBab al-MandabStrait also fell significantly, with only one dry cargo vessel carrying goods and sailing under the Bahamas flag transiting the waterway, compared with 20 vessels a day earlier.Earlier this week, Kpler reported that two oil tankers carryingSaudi crude oilhad transited the Bab al-Mandab Strait, while maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was already showing signs of decline.Shipping in theRed Seaoff the coast ofYemenhas been disrupted for nearly two weeks because of attacks by theHouthi militia, which has sought to impose a blockade on Saudi exports. The attacks have affected oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted commercial shipping along two of the world’s most important energy corridors.