Yemen's Houthi rebels said on Sept. 23 that despite ongoing fighting near the
strategic Bab al‑Mandeb strait linking the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, 408
commercial vessels transited the waterway between Sept. 11-21, according to
Houthi-controlled Masirah TV citing a group statement. Of those, 196 sailed
north into the Red Sea and 212 south into the Gulf of Aden; the tally included
container ships. The report added that "except for Saudi vessels, international
shipping continues normally and safely." The figure exceeded the 393 transits
recorded Sept. 1-10, when 199 moved north and 194 moved south.
