Two large Saudi oil tankers crossed the strategically important Bab al-Mandab strait and the Red Sea late last week despite Houthi threats to blockade Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported. The successful passage indicated that Riyadh’s energy shipments were continuing through the waterway despite heightened tensions. One vessel, Malta-flagged Lesbos, was carrying about 1 million barrels of Saudi crude, while the other, Desh Vaibhav, carried 2 million barrels.

The Iran-aligned Houthi group announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20 and subsequently attacked several oil tankers in the Red Sea. The report said the developments placed Tehran’s ongoing war against the United States and Israel before a new regional conflict. Concern over further Houthi attacks has also reduced overall shipping traffic through the route.

According to maritime data analytics firm Kpler, Lesbos’s final destination remained unclear. Desh Vaibhav was headed to Sikka port in India, operated by Reliance Industries. Both ships left the Red Sea area with their automatic identification systems switched off for security reasons. Cargo vessel crossings fell from 28 on Friday and 27 on Saturday to 18 on Sunday.