Saudi Arabia announced the creation of a naval coalition to protect ships from the Houthis

Saudi Arabia has announced the creation of an international naval coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. According to Nour News, the initiative was supported by 14 countries, including Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Sudan and Djibouti. The UAE and Oman have not expressed a desire to join the union.

The decision to create a maritime coalition was made against the backdrop of Yemen’s Houthi threats to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia and their attacks on ships associated with the kingdom. Riyadh says the coalition’s goal is to ensure freedom of international navigation.

Houthi officials claim that because of their actions, eight tankers carrying Saudi oil changed their route and headed around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope. The rerouting of a number of vessels has been independently confirmed, but the exact number of eight tankers is so far based on the Houthis’ statement.