Houthi declared a maritime blockade with Saudi Arabia

Yahya Saree, spokesman for the Houthi group, said via video on July 20 that this force will “impose a maritime embargo on the enemy Saudi Arabia based on the principle of tit for tat”. This maritime blockade will take effect immediately.

Houthi forces control the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea. This is the strait that many cargo ships and oil ships have passed through since the Strait of Hormuz was blocked due to the Iranian war.

It is unclear how the Houthis will enforce the maritime blockade with Saudi Arabia. This force once launched missiles to attack many cargo ships passing through the Red Sea during Israel’s attack on Hamas forces in Gaza.

In today’s statement, Mr. Saree explained that this move was in response to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Houthi “ports and airports” as well as the airstrike on Sanaa airport in Yemen last week.

“Any foolish action taken by Saudi Arabia through any form of escalation will be met with a comprehensive and drastic escalation,” he warned.

Riyadh has not commented on the Houthi statement.

On July 13, Houthis announced that they had launched ballistic missiles and drones (UAVs) to attack Abha international airport in Saudi Arabia, after the Yemeni government announced an attack on Sanaa airport to stop a flight carrying a Houthi delegation from Iran. Houthi accused Saudi Arabia of supporting the Yemeni government army in carrying out this attack.

For more than a decade, planes entering Yemeni airspace have required prior permission from the Saudi-led coalition. This coalition supports the Yemeni government and affirms that it enforces this restriction at the request of local authorities.

After the attack on Abha International Airport, the Houthi spokesman asked all airlines to avoid flying over Saudi Arabian airspace until the “blockade campaign at Sanaa International Airport” was lifted.

This is the first time the Houthis have announced an attack on Saudi Arabia since the unofficial ceasefire took effect in March 2022.

Iran is also said to be pressuring the Houthis to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if the US continues to attack Iran’s energy infrastructure. This will open a second front with the US in the Iran war, increasing pressure on Washington as well as its allies in the Gulf.

The Red Sea is also home to Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port, helping Riyadh export millions of barrels of oil, avoiding Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf during the conflict with the US.

The complete closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is expected to reduce global oil supply by 7%, according to Reuters.