In brief
In a swift move to respond to a Saudi blockade of Yemeni ports, the Iran‑backed Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, signalling closure of the Bab al‑Mandab Strait to Red Sea trade. This decision follows a recent Houthi missile attack on Saudi territory and adjoins a broader conflict involving the UAE, Israel and Iran. The embargo could disrupt the flow of 7% of global oil through the Red Sea, as Saudi crude exports shift heavily to Yanbu. Experts warn that any activation of this embargo threatens global shipping stability and could impose significant economic costs on the region’s maritime economy.
The Iran‑backed Houthi movement in Yemen has announced a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, effectively shutting the Bab al‑Mandab Strait— the southern entrance to the Red Sea— to Saudi naval and commercial vessels.
The embargo was issued immediately as a response to a Saudi blockade that has restricted Yemeni ports and airports across the north‑western part of the country for nearly twelve years. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated the Saudi siege was “unjust and oppressive,” tying the embargo into an “eye‑for‑an‑eye” retaliation strategy.
While the Houthis have not given operational details, a deputy media official posted on X that their forces were “closing Bab al‑Mandab to Saudi enemy ships.”
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry immediately condemned the claim, reaffirming its commitment to protect “its ships in accordance with international law.”
The move follows a week of renewed Houthi activity, including missile attacks on Abha airport and heightened regional tensions sparked by the Gaza war’s impacts on the Strait of Hormuz.
Global shipping experts warn that even a threat of action can destabilise maritime corridors. The Bab al‑Mandab handles about 7 million barrels per day of crude, roughly 7 % of worldwide oil output, and represents a critical chokepoint connecting the Gulf of Aden with the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.
Given the Saudi diversion of more than 70 % of its crude exports to the port of Yanbu in recent weeks, any disruption at the strait could re‑route shipping lanes and increase transit costs across the region.
