In brief
Yemen's Houthis have declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, opening immediately and targeting the Bab al-Mandab strait. The move follows an oil‑and‑airport blockade imposed by Riyadh on Houthi‑controlled north‑western Yemen. The Houthi spokesman said the embargo is a pay‑back for the Saudi siege, while Saudi officials denied and warned of defensive measures. The announcement threatens to disrupt key Red Sea shipping lanes used for global oil exports.
Yemen's Houthis Announce Maritime Embargo on Saudi Arabia
Yemen's Houthis have declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, opening immediately.
The Iran‑backed group’s military spokesman announced the action as retaliation for a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in Houthi‑controlled north‑western Yemen.
Details are sparse, but a Houthi media official said forces are “closing Bab al‑Mandab to Saudi vessels,” effectively shutting the southern gateway to the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry condemned the allegation and vowed to protect its ships in accordance with international law. The embassy warned it would take all necessary measures to safeguard its maritime presence.
The embargo is part of a broader escalation that began with Houthi missile attacks on Saudi airports in response to strikes on Sanaa’s airport. The conflict has been in a de‑escalated state since an informal truce in 2022, but recent events signal a sharp uptick.
The Bab al‑Mandab Strait, a 32 km waterway between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and is a key shipping route for global oil traffic, especially after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed during the Gaza‑War escalation in October 2023.
After the Gaza war began, the Houthis intensified attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, sinking four ships and killing nine crew members. Commercial traffic through Bab al‑Mandab dropped to record lows as vessels rerouted around southern Africa.
Saudi Arabia has diverted more than 70% of its crude exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, shipping about 4 million barrels per day from there in recent weeks.
Total petroleum volumes transiting Bab al‑Mandab rose to 7.4 million barrels per day last June, about 7% of global oil output.
Whether the Houthis will move from threats to direct attacks on Saudi vessels remains uncertain, but the announcement alone is likely to disrupt shipping and create uncertainty for Saudi ports.
