Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced on Monday that they have banned maritime traffic to Saudi Arabia and that the decision took effect immediately. In a statement on Al-Masirah TV, Saree said they took this step in response to what they claimed was a blockade imposed by Riyadh.
The Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency reported that within 24 hours of the blockade announcement, six ships turned back after warnings. The report did not provide details on the identity of the ships or the point where they turned back.
Al-Alimi: Houthis serve Iran's agenda
Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi stated that the Houthis are trying to drag Yemen into a wider conflict spiral in a way that serves the Iranian regime's agenda. In a meeting with India's Ambassador to Yemen Suhail Ijaz Khan, al-Alimi stressed that the consequences of this escalation will not be limited to Yemen.
Al-Alimi called on the international community to view the Houthis as part of a regional threat network. The Yemeni leader accused the group of engaging in arms smuggling, threatening maritime security, obstructing food supplies, and supporting piracy activities.
Strong condemnation from Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Council of Ministers condemned the Houthis' claims and accusations in the strongest terms. Convened under the chairmanship of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the council stated that the Houthis are being drawn into a conflict in the region that serves their own agenda, deepening the suffering of the Yemeni people and threatening regional security.
Saudi Arabia announced that it will continue to support the Yemeni people and their legitimate government, and will take resolute steps within international law to protect its own security and its ships.
UN resolution and Yemen's front lines
The United Nations Security Council, with Resolution 2722 adopted on January 10, 2024, condemned the Houthi attacks on commercial ships since November 2023 and granted member states the right to defend their vessels.
The relative calm that had prevailed in Yemen since April 2022 has recently turned back into clashes between government forces and Houthis in provinces such as Jawf, al-Dhale, and Taiz. In July, Yemen's Defense Ministry announced that it targeted the runway of Sanaa Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, while the Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack and claimed that the de-escalation process had ended.
