Tuesday saw Yemen’s Houthis target a fourth Saudi-linked tanker since declaring a blockade of the kingdom’s ports, keeping pressure on the Red Sea oil route despite a partial recovery in traffic through Bab el-Mandeb, a chokepoint that remains closely watched by shipping companies because even brief disruptions can force rerouting and delay cargoes.

The group said it fired ballistic missiles at the 49,990 dwt chemical and products tanker NCC Ghazal for ignoring warnings and violating its navigation ban. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the vessel was forced to retreat.

Maritime security analyst Martin Kelly said NCC Ghazal was struck by anti-ship missiles in the southern Red Sea and turned back. Neither Saudi authorities nor operator Bahri had confirmed damage at the time of writing.

The 2014-built tanker switched off its AIS on July 23 and was last publicly tracked near Yanbu. Separately, UKMTO reported that the master of an unidentified tanker heard an explosion near Jizan. The vessel and crew were safe, and no pollution was reported, but UKMTO did not link the incident to NCC Ghazal.

The latest target follows attacks on Encelia, Layla and NCC Masa. Saudi authorities confirmed that Encelia caught fire after being struck, while the Houthi claim against Layla has not been independently verified. NCC Masa sustained only superficial damage and continued its voyage.

The campaign has created a volatile traffic pattern rather than a complete closure. Kpler data showed just 11 vessels passing Bab el-Mandeb on Sunday, the lowest total in months. Crossings recovered to 28 on Monday and 37 on Tuesday, the highest since July 19. That rebound shows some operators are still using the route, but the uneven flow also underscores how shipping schedules can shift quickly when security warnings rise.

Tuesday’s movement included 20 ships entering the Red Sea and 17 leaving, although no VLCCs or LNG carriers made the passage.

The Joint Maritime Information Center has raised the threat level for the southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb to substantial, assessing further attacks as a strong possibility.

Diplomacy is also broadening beyond Hormuz. The UAE newspaper The National reported that the United States and Iran have widened their unofficial contacts to include maritime security in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, reflecting how the route has become part of wider regional talks as well as a shipping concern.