Two Saudi oil tankers transporting crude to Asia altered their routes in the Red Sea on Tuesday following threats from Yemen’s Ansar Allah group, marking an escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict that has disrupted maritime traffic through vital energy corridors. The tankers, which had loaded crude destined for China and India, made U-turns and redirected toward the Suez Canal, according to shipping data monitored by LSEG.

The developments come amid heightened violence across the region. United States forces conducted airstrikes overnight targeting locations in southern and western Iran. In response, Tehran launched attacks on American facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Additionally, at least one tanker was reportedly struck in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. These hostilities have effectively undermined the interim peace agreement reached last month.

On Monday, Yemen’s Ansar Allah declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, signaling the opening of a new front in the conflict and increasing risks to global energy security and trade routes extending beyond the Persian Gulf. Despite the threats that led to the tanker diversions, operations at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu have reportedly continued without disruption, according to sources.

The latest military escalations briefly pushed oil prices up about 2%, reflecting concerns over supply stability. However, the easing of price pressures was attributed to political signals indicating that both Tehran and Washington may be seeking to revive diplomatic negotiations.

The U.S. Central Command stated that its recent strikes targeted Iranian military command centers, maritime assets, missile and drone launch sites, as well as air defense systems, as part of its ongoing efforts in the escalating regional confrontation.