Yemen's Houthis say they will impose naval blockade against Saudi Arabia
The move threatens a chokepoint that carries about 12% of global trade and could force tankers to reroute around Africa, analysts said.
- On Monday, July 20, 2026, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels announced an immediate maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, citing an "unjust and oppressive siege" of Yemeni ports as justification for the blockade.
- The blockade follows a significant flare-up after the Saudi-led coalition reportedly struck Sanaa International Airport last week, piercing a fragile four-year truce between the warring sides.
- Kpler data indicates the Bab el-Mandeb strait is essential to Saudi exports while the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted; a full closure could reduce global oil supply by about 7 percent.
- Shipping firms may be forced to reroute vessels around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to transit times and increasing costs, while Brent crude briefly traded above $90 per barrel.
- Mediators recently presented ceasefire proposals to Tehran, according to Iran's Foreign Ministry, even as the Houthis threatened "comprehensive and decisive escalation." Both Iranian and American officials left open the possibility of renewed negotiations.
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322 Articles
Will Yemen’s Houthis open new front in Middle East conflict?
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militia has announced it is closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait to Saudi ships, in a “maritime embargo” that could further disrupt global energy supplies. The strait, a “strategic gateway” linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is “one of the world’s most important oil transit routes”, said US-funded Arabic news service Alhurra. And, in recent days, Iran has reportedly been calling on the Houthis to block the strait …
Houthis announce Saudi naval blockade
DUBAI/RIYADH — Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, opening a potential new front against the United States in its war with Iran and raising the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf. The post Houthis announce Saudi naval blockade appeared first on West Hawaii Today.
Yemen's Houthis have declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, threatening to open a new front that adds tension to the chaos of Ormuz and could unleash...
The Houthis justify the maritime embargo against Saudi navigation as a response to the alleged blockade imposed by Riyadh since the beginning of the war and announced that they will prevent the passage of boats linked to the kingdom through the Strait of Bab al M.
Yemen's Houthis announce blockade of Saudi shipping at Bab el-Mandeb Strait: How it matters for India?
Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, said in a video statement that the maritime ban against Saudi Arabia will be effective immediately, describing it as an “equation of ‘an eye for an eye.’”
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