### [2026-07-22](/feed/2026/07/22/index.md) ##### Middle Eastern crisis # Seven oil tankers departing Saudi Arabia's port of Yanbu change course away from the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb after the Houthis announced a blockade on Saudi Arabian ports. ### Sources: 1. [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/more-ships-change-course-red-sea-after-houthi-threats-shipping-data-shows-2026-07-22/) 2. [The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/07/21/ships-bound-saudi-arabia-turn-around-sign-new-red-sea-blockade/) ### Changes: 1. Five tankers departing Saudi Arabia's port of Yanbu change course away from the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb after threats from Houthi-controlled Yemen. _2026-07-22 19:53:11 (First version)_ 1. Seven oil tankers departing Saudi Arabia's port of Yanbu change course away from the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb after the Houthis announced a blockade on Saudi Arabian ports. _(Current version)_ ### Related: 1. [Two oil tankers departing Saudi Arabia, "Xin Long Yang" and "Rodos", turn around in the Red Sea and head for the Suez Canal instead of the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, after a warning by Houthi-controlled Yemen. ](/feed/2026/07/21/two-oil-tankers-departing-saudi-arabia-xin-long-yang-and-rodos-turn-around-in-the-red-sea-and-head-for-the-suez-ca.md) _Context: Houthis, Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia, Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb_ 2. [Houthi-controlled Yemen declares a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia effective immediately, after accusing it of an "aggressive siege" against Yemen for nearly 12 years. ](/feed/2026/07/20/houthi-controlled-yemen-declares-a-maritime-blockade-of-saudi-arabia-effective-immediately-after-accusing-it-of-an-agg.md) _Context: Houthis, Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 3. [The U.S. State Department approves a potential US$1.96 billion deal in arms sales to Saudi Arabia amidst the current Iran war and potential re-escalation with the Houthis. ](/feed/2026/07/15/the-us-state-department-approves-a-potential-us-196-billion-deal-in-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-amidst-the-current-ira.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 4. [The Houthi-led government accuses Saudi Arabia of an airstrike on a runway at Sanaa International Airport in Houthi-controlled Yemen, which Yemen's internationally recognized government says was to stop an Iranian Mahan Air flight that was returning the Houthi delegation from the funeral of Ali Khamenei. ](/feed/2026/07/13/the-houthi-led-government-accuses-saudi-arabia-of-an-airstrike-on-a-runway-at-sanaa-international-airport-in-houthi-cont.md) _Context: Houthis, Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 5. [Saudi Arabia's East–West Crude Oil Pipeline is hit in an Iranian attack. ](/feed/2026/04/8/saudi-arabia-s-east-west-crude-oil-pipeline-is-hit-in-an-iranian-attack.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 6. [Bahrain imposes a nighttime maritime curfew from 6:00{{nbsp}}pm to 4:00{{nbsp}}am to restrict sea traffic and strengthen coastal security following reported attacks attributed to Iran. [https:--today.lorientlejour.com-article-1501346-bahrain-announces-curfew-for-maritime-traffic-ministry.html (AFP via "L'Orient Today")]***Ten Kuwaiti soldiers are injured in a new wave of missile and drone attacks on Kuwait. [https:--saudigazette.com.sa-article-660088-world-10-kuwaiti-soldiers-injured-in-missile-and-drone-attacks ("Saudi Gazette")]*The foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, meet in Islamabad to express their "full support" for potential Iran–United States talks hosted by Pakistan. [https:--www.france24.com-en-live-news-20260329-pakistan-hosts-saudi-turkey-egypt-for-talks-on-mideast-war (AFP via France 24)]*United States president Donald Trump tells "Financial Times" that the U.S. could seize Kharg Island and "take the oil" in Iran, although "a deal could be made fairly quickly". [https:--www.ft.com-content-3bd9fb6c-2985-4d24-b86b-23b7884031f5 ("Financial Times")] [https:--english.news.cn-northamerica-20260330-e0958790470e42ccaf54eff1aaa783f8-c.html (Xinhua)]*An Iranian missile hits the Makhteshim chemical plant in southern Israel. A warning for the leakage of hazardous materials is issued for the immediate vicinity of the site. [https:--www.reuters.com-world-middle-east-adama-chemicals-plant-southern-israel-hit-by-iranian-missile-or-debris-2026-03-29- (Reuters)]*A visual evidence released by "The New York Times" shows that a sports hall in Lamerd in the Fars province of Iran was hit by a untested short-range Precision Strike Missile during the first day of the war on February 28, 2026. [https:--www.nytimes.com-2026-03-29-world-middleeast-us-precision-strike-missile-iran-lamerd.html ("The New York Times")]An Indonesian peacekeeper of the UNIFIL mission is killed and a second one is critically injured when a projectile explodes at their position near Aadshit al-Qusayr, Nabatieh Governorate. [https:--www.timesofisrael.com-indonesian-peacekeeper-killed-in-lebanon-explosion-2nd-critically-injured- ("Times of Israel")]*2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain](/feed/2026/03/29/bahrain-imposes-a-nighttime-maritime-curfew-from-6-00-nbsp-pm-to-4-00-nbsp-am-to-restrict-sea-traffic-and-strengthen.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 7. [Five U.S. warplanes are damaged in an Iranian drone strike on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. ](/feed/2026/03/14/five-us-warplanes-are-damaged-in-an-iranian-drone-strike-on-prince-sultan-air-base-saudi-arabia.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 8. [Explosions and fires are reported at the United States embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following a series of Iranian drone strikes. ](/feed/2026/03/3/explosions-and-fires-are-reported-at-the-united-states-embassy-in-riyadh-saudi-arabia-following-a-series-of-iranian-dr.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 9. [The Israeli Air Force strikes three ports and a power plant in Houthi-controlled Yemen in response to recent ballistic missile attacks on Israel. ](/feed/2025/07/7/the-israeli-air-force-strikes-three-ports-and-a-power-plant-in-houthi-controlled-yemen-in-response-to-recent-ballistic-m.md) _Context: Houthis, Middle Eastern crisis_