Yemen’s Houthi movement announced Monday that it would target Saudi-flagged vessels and any ships bound for Saudi ports, declaring an immediate maritime embargo in retaliation for what it described as a Saudi-imposed siege on Yemeni airspace and infrastructure.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement that the action followed the principle of “siege for siege.” He declared the measure in effect from the moment of the announcement, warning that Saudi-linked shipping would be treated as legitimate targets.
The declaration escalates tensions between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which led a military coalition against the group for years in Yemen’s civil war. It comes amid recent disputes over Sanaa International Airport and alleged Saudi attempts to restrict Iranian civilian flights into Houthi-controlled areas.
Saree’s statement did not detail how the Houthis planned to enforce the embargo or specify the geographic scope beyond general references to Saudi-bound shipping. The group has previously carried out attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, many of them linked to Israel, the United States or Britain.
Saudi officials have not yet issued a public response to the latest threat. In past flare-ups, the Saudi-led coalition has warned it would respond forcefully to attacks on its territory or interests.
The move highlights the fragile state of de-escalation efforts in Yemen, where a fragile truce has held in recent years even as the Houthis continued Red Sea operations tied to the Israel-Hamas war. Shipping companies and energy markets are likely to monitor the announcement closely, given Saudi Arabia’s central role in global oil exports.
No independent confirmation of immediate naval activity was available. The Houthis regularly issue sweeping statements that do not always result in immediate action.
