Houthis declare naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, threatening Red Sea oil trade
Yemen's Houthi militia has declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, threatening to cut off a critical oil shipping route at a moment when the Strait of Hormuz is already severely disrupted.
The Iran-backed group announced the move in a televised address, framing it as retaliation for what it described as Saudi Arabia's "oppressive siege" on Yemen, including blockades on Houthi-held ports. "The Yemeni Armed Forces declare a maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of 'an eye for an eye', effective immediately," the group said.
With Bab al-Mandeb being Saudi Arabia's gateway to the Asian market, experts warn that the costs of forcing ships to reroute will be astronomical.
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Muhammad Ali Bandial