Local time on August 17, several months into the US-Iran conflict, vessel transits through two critical Middle Eastern shipping lanes remain subdued, according to data from the global maritime tracking platform MarineTraffic. Over the past 24 hours, at least three commercial vessels have transited the Strait of Hormuz, a stark contrast to the pre-conflict average of roughly 110 ships per day using that waterway.

In the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, at least 37 commercial ships were recorded passing through during the same 24-hour period. A statement released by US Central Command on August 17 indicates that, as of that date, its forces had diverted 64 commercial vessels, rendered three ships inoperable, and conducted boarding inspections on two vessels to verify compliance with relevant regulations.

These figures highlight the persistent disruption to global shipping routes in the region, reflecting the ongoing impact of heightened tensions on maritime traffic and commercial operations.