Red Sea 

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Latest news on the Red Sea, covering shipping disruption, Houthi attacks, the Suez Canal, maritime security, tourism and coral reef conservation.

The Red Sea is a narrow inlet of the Indian Ocean separating north-east Africa from the Arabian Peninsula, linking the Mediterranean to the wider world via the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It borders Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan and Israel, and carries a substantial share of global container traffic between Asia and Europe. The Suez Canal Authority, the International Maritime Organization and Yemen's Houthi movement are among the key names associated with the waterway's ongoing story.

Since late 2023, Houthi attacks on commercial vessels have repeatedly disrupted Red Sea shipping, prompting many carriers to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope rather than risk the shorter Suez passage. Periods of relative calm have alternated with renewed strikes, tanker seizures and naval intervention from Western and regional forces, with escalations often tied to wider tensions involving Israel, Iran and Gulf states. In mid-2026, the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and struck oil tankers transiting the Red Sea, reviving fears of a wider shipping crisis. Shipping lines continue to weigh Suez Canal transit numbers, freight rates and security advisories before committing to the route.

Away from shipping lanes, the Red Sea sustains a rich human and natural landscape. Its reefs, among the most climate-resilient coral systems in the world, draw divers and snorkellers to resorts such as Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam, while giga-projects like NEOM and Red Sea Global are reshaping Saudi Arabia's northern coastline around large-scale marine tourism and reef restoration. Fishing communities along its shores, from Sudan to Yemen, remain economically dependent on its waters, even as conservationists warn that tourism and development bring their own pressures on fragile marine habitats.

The Red Sea's history stretches back to antiquity, when ancient Egyptian expeditions sailed its length in search of trade with the land of Punt, and it later featured in Greek, Roman and Islamic-era commerce along the spice and incense routes. It holds deep significance in Jewish, Christian and Islamic tradition through the Exodus narrative, and its modern strategic importance was cemented by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, a waterway later closed for years during the conflicts of the twentieth century. That long history of trade, faith and conflict continues to shape how the region is understood today.

From maritime security and Suez Canal traffic to tourism, conservation and the fortunes of the countries along its coast, the Red Sea remains one of the world's most closely watched waterways. Follow NewsNow's Red Sea feed for the latest headlines on shipping, regional security and life along this historic sea.