Yemen’s Houthi movement, backed by Iran, announced on Monday a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions with potential fallout for global shipping and energy markets.
In an official statement, the group’s armed wing said it was enforcing a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia in retaliation for what it described as a prolonged blockade imposed on Yemen by Riyadh. The Houthis framed the move as a direct, proportional response to Saudi actions.
Saudi Arabia has not yet issued a formal reaction to the announcement.
Maritime analysts warn that a complete shutdown of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the critical chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, could halt Saudi crude exports to Asian markets and cut global oil supply by as much as 7 percent. This comes on top of an already significant 10 percent drop in worldwide oil flows triggered by the ongoing Iran conflict.
Mohammed Albasha, founder of Washington-based risk advisory firm Basha Report, noted that uncertainty remains over whether the Houthis will escalate from rhetoric to actual attacks on vessels bound for Saudi ports. He cautioned that even without direct strikes, the blockade declaration itself is likely to unsettle shipping operators and disrupt port activity across the kingdom.
The announcement follows Houthi missile strikes on Saudi Arabia last week, launched after accusations that the kingdom struck an airport under Houthi control, effectively ending a four-year ceasefire between the two sides. Source: Reuters
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