Yemen’s Houthis announce ‘maritime embargo’ on Saudi Arabia
Yemen’s Houthi movement has announced the immediate enforcement of a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, describing the move as retaliation for what it says is Riyadh’s long-standing blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled areas of north-western Yemen.
The Iran-backed group’s military spokesperson said the embargo was intended as a response to what it called years of restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia. While no detailed measures were outlined, a Houthi media official stated that the group had closed the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping route linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, to Saudi vessels.
Saudi Arabia rejected the accusations, with its Foreign Ministry condemning the announcement and pledging to take all necessary measures under international law to safeguard its maritime traffic.
The development comes amid renewed tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, just a week after the most significant escalation in their conflict since an informal truce took effect in 2022. The Houthis recently claimed responsibility for missile strikes targeting Abha Airport in south-western Saudi Arabia, saying the attacks were in retaliation for airstrikes on Sanaa Airport, which they blamed on the kingdom.
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government, however, said the strikes on Sanaa were aimed at preventing an unauthorised Iranian aircraft from landing.
Yemen’s conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention the following year in support of the internationally recognised government. The war has claimed more than 150,000 lives and contributed to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
In announcing the embargo, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea accused Saudi Arabia of maintaining a comprehensive blockade of Yemen for nearly 12 years and vowed to respond to any further escalation with stronger measures.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is a vital global shipping route. Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in 2023, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting maritime trade and forcing many shipping companies to reroute vessels around southern Africa.
The latest announcement has raised fresh concerns over regional shipping, particularly as Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on Red Sea export routes following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts say that even if no ships are attacked, the declaration alone could heighten uncertainty and disrupt maritime operations in the region.
Source: BBC
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