SANAA — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has issued new threats against Saudi Arabia’s maritime interests, warning that Saudi-linked vessels could become targets if tensions between the two sides continue to escalate.
The group’s military leadership said it would respond to what it described as hostile actions by Saudi Arabia with further measures, including targeting maritime activities connected to Riyadh. The statements mark a significant escalation in rhetoric between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia after years of relative calm along their border.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group was prepared to expand its operations and warned that any further escalation would be met with what he called a strong response. The group has previously used missiles and drones against regional targets and has carried out attacks affecting shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The latest threats come amid renewed tensions over Yemen’s conflict, including accusations exchanged between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The Houthis have accused Riyadh of imposing restrictions and carrying out military actions, while Saudi Arabia has repeatedly blamed the group for threatening regional security.
The Red Sea remains a strategically vital waterway connecting the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. Any disruption to shipping in the area could affect global trade, energy transportation, and international supply chains.
International shipping companies have previously altered routes around Africa to avoid security risks in the Red Sea following Houthi attacks on commercial vessels linked to the wider regional tensions.
Saudi Arabia has not immediately issued a response to the latest Houthi warnings. However, Riyadh has previously said it supports efforts to secure maritime routes and prevent attacks that threaten regional stability.
Analysts say the renewed threats could complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Yemen’s long-running conflict, which has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises since it began in 2014.
The situation is being closely monitored by regional powers and international actors concerned that further escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia could widen instability across the Middle East and threaten one of the world’s most important maritime corridors.
