The Houthis have refused to vacate the Ras Isa port two weeks after the US military targeted oil terminal systems. Reports confirmed by UK maritime trade monitoring indicate numerous ships, including at least a dozen tankers, are anchored at the site. Diplomatic sources from Russia and Turkey acknowledged their vessels were present during the US strikes on April 17-18. The US has subsequently sanctioned three ships for defying permit expirations while unloading oil products at the port controlled by the Houthis.
UKMTO has validated claims that these anchored ships have been denied permission to leave, despite UN inspections that ensure vessels carry no weapons for the Houthis. Local authorities have instructed some ships to transition to the harbor, amidst threats of violence. One incident involved armed personnel boarding vessels, raising alarms about the security risks for ships visiting Houthi-controlled ports.
The April strikes reportedly resulted in 74 fatalities and 171 injuries. Among the affected vessels, the product tanker Seven Pearls was slightly damaged, with some crew members injured. A Turkish-managed LPG ship, St. Oslo, is awaiting permission to depart. Reports suggest an unarmed Turkish-operated fuel tanker also faced restrictions, further demonstrating the dangers ships encounter in the region.
