As Yemen's Houthi rebels threaten shipping routes in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia is loading crude oil at ports in the Persian Gulf, Bloomberg reported on the 14th.

Based on satellite imagery taken on the 13th, the outlet reported that a very large crude carrier (VLCC) was spotted moored at the Ju'aymah terminal of the Ras Tanura oil export complex in the Persian Gulf.

This tanker can carry up to 2 million barrels.

Another tanker that was moored at this terminal on the 11th was no longer visible, leading to the presumption that it departed after loading crude oil.

It has been nearly a month since a tanker was last moored at this facility.

When the Strait of Hormuz was blockaded due to the Iran war, Saudi Arabia rerouted its crude oil exports through the terminal at the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

However, as the pro-Iran Yemeni Houthi rebels threatened to attack Saudi vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea, this alternative route has also faced disruptions.

Over the past week, Houthi rebels have twice attacked Saudi Aramco oil refineries.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)