Al Jazeera, citing Yemen’s Al-Masirah TV, quoted a source at the
Houthi-controlled transport ministry saying 73 vessels transited the Bab
el‑Mandeb on Sept. 10-11 — 36 on Sept. 10 and 37 on Sept. 11. The source said a
ban on Saudi vessels did not impede international shipping and that 48‑hour
transit volume equaled 98.6% of the pre‑ban average, arguing the data disproves
claims that merchant shipping faces heightened risk after Houthi control of
Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
