Two oil tankers bound for China and India turned around in the Red Sea and headed toward the Suez Canal after receiving explicit warnings from Yemen’s Houthi militia.

The move follows the group’s declaration of a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, raising severe concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies and a broader expansion of regional conflict.

In a direct communication sent to global shipping firms, the Houthis warned against docking or handling cargo at Saudi Arabian ports, declaring that non-compliant vessels could face military targeting anywhere within reach.

The threat directly jeopardizes Saudi Arabia’s strategic Yanbu terminal on the Red Sea. Yanbu has served as a critical bypass route for millions of barrels of crude per day seeking to avoid the vulnerable Strait of Hormuz. With the Houthis controlling northern Yemen and key stretches along the vital Bab al-Mandeb strait, shipping companies face growing operational hazards that could force lengthier, far more expensive maritime transit routes between Middle Eastern suppliers and major Asian markets.