Yemen's Houthi movement announced a 'maritime embargo' against Saudi Arabia on Monday, stating the measure begins immediately. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the move is a response to the long-standing Saudi-led blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled regions of northwestern Yemen. A Houthi media official clarified that the group intends to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait—a critical 20-mile-wide waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden—to Saudi-flagged vessels.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the Houthi announcement. The ministry stated that the kingdom will take all necessary measures to protect its maritime assets in accordance with international law. The escalation follows recent hostilities, including Houthi missile strikes on Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport and retaliatory air strikes on Sanaa’s airport, which the Saudi-backed Yemeni government said were intended to block unauthorized Iranian aircraft.
The embargo threat comes as Saudi Arabia has increased its reliance on Red Sea shipping routes. Due to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has diverted approximately 70% of its crude exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, with shipments reaching about 4 million barrels per day in recent weeks. Analysts suggest that while the physical impact on shipping is yet to be determined, the announcement may cause uncertainty for commercial traffic and insurance rates in the region.