Sanaa tightens its grip on Bab al-Mandab, ships pile up off Saudi ports

SANAA, July 22 (YPA) -Satellite imagery revealed on Wednesday dozens of vessels stranded at Saudi ports, coinciding with tightened maritime restrictions imposed by Sanaa in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and a declared ban on Saudi navigation.

According to satellite data, the affected ships are currently anchored near the Saudi ports of Jizan and Bisha, located opposite the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Earlier, authorities in Sanaa stated that six vessels were turned back from the strait following warnings. Among the returning ships, according to Reuters, were two Saudi oil tankers that attempted to traverse Bab al-Mandab before altering their course toward the Suez Canal.

The maritime ban on Saudi shipping was initiated by Yemeni forces on Monday evening, citing Saudi Arabia’s refusal to lift the blockade on Yemen.

YPA