SANAA — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement on Monday announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, escalating tensions between the two sides after the first major exchange of attacks in years.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had imposed what he called a “maritime embargo” on Saudi Arabia, describing the move as a response to what the group accused Riyadh of being responsible for restricting access to Houthi-controlled ports and airports and carrying out an attack on Sanaa International Airport last week.
“The blockade will be met with a blockade,” Saree said in a televised statement, warning that any further escalation by Saudi Arabia would face what he described as a “comprehensive and decisive” response.
The announcement marks a significant rise in tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, ending a period of relative calm following years of conflict and diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing hostilities.
The latest confrontation began after the Houthis launched missiles toward Abha airport in southern Saudi Arabia last Monday. The attack came after Yemen’s internationally recognized government said it had targeted Sanaa airport to prevent the departure of a flight carrying a Houthi delegation from Iran.
The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen’s government, of being behind the airport strike and vowed retaliation.
For more than a decade, flights entering Yemeni airspace have required approval from the Saudi-led coalition, which has maintained restrictions on air traffic as part of its military involvement in Yemen.
The latest escalation has raised concerns over the security of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, key international shipping routes connecting Asia and the Middle East with Europe through the Suez Canal.
During the Gaza war, the Houthis previously launched attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming they were targeting ships linked to Israel and its allies. The attacks disrupted global shipping and forced many vessels to take longer routes around the southern tip of Africa.
Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port, located on the Red Sea coast, is a major oil export facility that allows Riyadh to transport crude oil through an alternative route outside the Gulf region.
Analysts warn that any prolonged confrontation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia could threaten regional security, increase risks to maritime trade, and add further pressure to already fragile diplomatic efforts in Yemen and the wider Middle East.
Saudi authorities have not immediately issued a detailed response to the Houthi maritime blockade announcement.
