Houthi Rebels Declare Maritime Embargo Against Saudi Arabia

The Iran‑backed Houthi movement in Yemen has announced a maritime embargo against Saudi vessels, escalating a conflict that has sat largely dormant since a 2022 truce.

According to Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea, the embargo will take effect “immediately” and is a response to the Saudi blockade of Houthi‑controlled ports and airports in north‑western Yemen. He stated that the group had declared a “maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy,” signalling that the strait’s gateway is now closed to Saudi ships.

A Houthi media official later confirmed that forces were “closing Bab al‑Mandab to Saudi enemy ships.” The Bab al‑Mandab Strait, only 32 km wide, lies between Yemen and the Horn of Africa and connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea—one of the world’s most heavily trafficked oil corridors.

The embargo is part of a broader escalation that began after Houthi forces launched missiles at a Saudi airport in Abha in response to strikes on Sanaa’s airport, which the Houthis linked to Saudi interests. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has condemned the move and vowed to protect its ships in line with international law.

The maritime blockade threatens a shipping route that has become critical for Saudi oil exports following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Gaza war. Over 70% of Saudi crude was redirected to its Red Sea port of Yanbu, with volumes hitting 4 million bpd in recent weeks and 7.4 million bpd passing through Bab al‑Mandab in June alone.

If the embargo takes effect, it could force shipping lines to reroute around southern Africa, increasing transit times and insurance costs. Analysts warn that any confirmation that the Houthis will follow through could create significant disruptions for global trade and fuel markets.

Yemen’s civil war, which began in 2014, has left over 150,000 dead and more than 22 million people in need of aid. The latest escalation marks the most severe uptick in the conflict since the 2022 truce, adding to an already tragic humanitarian crisis.

For more on the maritime risks in the region, see Potential Houthi Threat to Red Sea Shipping and Second tanker hijacked off Yemen by suspected Somali pirates.