In brief
In a surprise escalation, the Houthi militia has declared a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, aimed at rejecting the kingdom’s blockade of Yemeni ports. The embargo will commence immediately, with Houthi media officials confirming the closure of the Bab al‑Mandab Strait to Saudi vessels. Saudi Arabia condemned the move, vowing to protect its ships in line with international law. The announcement foreshadows a potential uptick in Red Sea security concerns, following increased maritime tensions that stem from the Gaza war, and threatens to further strain global shipping routes.
Yemen's Houthis have announced a “maritime embargo” against Saudi Arabia.
The Iran‑backed group’s military spokesman said the embargo would take effect immediately, citing the Saudi blockade of Yemeni ports and airports in the northwest as the trigger.
While little detail was offered, a Houthi media official reported that forces were closing the Bab al‑Mandab Strait—the Red Sea’s southern gateway—to Saudi vessels. Boisterous protests unfolded in Sanaa, as frontline troops guarded the border at the strait.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry responded in strong terms, condemning the allegation and pledging that the kingdom would “take all necessary measures to protect its ships in accordance with international law.”
The embargo is part of a renewed confrontation that erupted after a week-long quiet period following an informal truce in 2022. Earlier this month, the Houthis launched missiles at Abha airport in Saudi Arabia in retaliation for air strikes on Sana’a airport, allegedly carried out by Saudi‑backed forces.
The Bab al‑Mandab Strait, a 32km wide waterway between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and acts as a major conduit for oil shipments to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have heightened security concerns, sinking four ships and prompting rerouting of commercial traffic around southern Africa. A closure of the strait would further disrupt these routes, potentially exacerbating the humanitarian crisis that already sees more than 22 million Yemenis requiring aid.
Experts warn that the action could destabilize vital maritime corridors, inflating shipping costs and unsettling the global oil market. The extent to which the Houthis will transition from threats to direct attacks on vessels now remains the key question.
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