# Curbing Houthi Attacks on Civilian Ships in the Bab al-Mandab | The Washington Institute

> A Washington Institute brief analyzes the July 25 Houthi attack on the Saudi-flagged VLCC Arsan in the Red Sea. The tanker had been carrying about two million barrels of oil to Egypt. The authors say Saudi Arabia has suspended tanker movements through Bab al-Mandab and that disruptions will continue until Houthi forces leave Hodeida province.

- Date: 2018-07-27 · published 2018-07-27T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: geopolitics · region Middle East · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/63933-curbing-houthi-attacks-on-civilian-ships-in-the-bab-al-mandab-the-washington
- Commodities: [Crude Oil (Brent)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BRENT.md)

## Why it matters

Ongoing suspension of tanker traffic through Bab al-Mandab keeps a risk premium in crude prices. Persistent disruption would sustain higher energy and freight costs.

## Read by commodity

- BRENT: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BRENT | 2026-03-01 | [How the attack on Iran could impact the global oil market and economy](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20773-how-the-attack-on-iran-could-impact-the-global-oil-market-and-economy.md) | +31.0% | +62.6% |
| BRENT | 2019-09-15 | [Brent crude oil spikes the most in history after Saudi attacks](https://feedsoft.ai/events/57247-brent-crude-oil-spikes-the-most-in-history-after-saudi-attacks.md) | +6.6% | -0.3% |
| BRENT | 2019-07-01 | [Oil's Surge on Tanker Attacks Muted by Demand Fears](https://feedsoft.ai/events/58759-oil-s-surge-on-tanker-attacks-muted-by-demand-fears.md) | -4.2% | -6.1% |
| BRENT | 2025-08-21 | [The Red Sea crisis: Renewed attacks keep shipping at risk \| project44](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16925-the-red-sea-crisis-renewed-attacks-keep-shipping-at-risk-project44.md) | +1.0% | +2.0% |
| BRENT | 2025-07-09 | [FACTBOX: Red Sea transits in renewed focus following Houthis' first attacks in 2025 \| S&P Global](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16933-factbox-red-sea-transits-in-renewed-focus-following-houthis-first-attacks-in.md) | -2.6% | -4.1% |

## Sources

- washingtoninstitute.org: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/curbing-houthi-attacks-civilian-ships-bab-al-mandab

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.