RIYADH – The spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, on Monday pledged a forceful response to any threats targeting Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, following a Houthi announcement that it was imposing a blockade on vessels bound for Saudi Arabia.
“We will defend our commercial vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and we will respond firmly and forcefully to any source from which threats against us are organized,” Al-Maliki said in a statement.
His remarks came shortly after Yemen’s Houthi movement declared that ships heading to Saudi ports would be considered targets under a newly announced maritime blockade, raising fears of a renewed escalation in one of the world’s most strategically important shipping corridors.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is a vital gateway for global trade and energy shipments. Any disruption to maritime traffic through the narrow waterway could have significant implications for international commerce and regional security.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused the Iran-aligned Houthis of threatening freedom of navigation in the Red Sea through missile attacks, drone strikes, and operations against commercial shipping. The Houthis, meanwhile, say their actions are part of broader military measures linked to regional conflicts and their support for Palestinians in Gaza.
Al-Maliki stressed that the coalition and its partners would continue to safeguard international shipping lanes and ensure the security of maritime traffic through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.
The latest exchange signals a potential increase in tensions around the Red Sea, where attacks on vessels over the past two years have prompted international naval deployments and heightened concerns over the security of one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.
