Yemen’s Houthi rebels announce maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia

Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, marking a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between the group and the Saudi-led coalition. The announcement, made by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree in a video statement, described the move as an “equation of ‘an eye for an eye’” in response to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Yemen and an alleged attack on Sanaa International Airport. The embargo targets the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway through which 12% of global trade and a quarter of container traffic passes, raising concerns about disruptions to international shipping and energy markets.

The Houthi declaration comes amid heightened tensions following a recent confrontation. The rebels accused Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa airport in an attempt to intercept a flight carrying Houthi leaders returning from Iran, where they had attended the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The plane safely landed at another airport, prompting the Houthis to launch missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport. This marked the most significant exchange of attacks between the two sides in years, threatening to destabilize the 2022 truce that had largely held despite its expiration.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a 20-mile-wide passage between Yemen and Djibouti, has long been a flashpoint. The Houthis previously disrupted shipping there during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, targeting over 100 vessels. While the group has not yet specified how it will enforce the new embargo, its threat to close the strait risks forcing ships to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding approximately 2,700 miles to journeys from Saudi Arabia to the U.S. And significantly increasing costs. The U.S. Government has warned that such detours could strain global supply chains, particularly for oil exports.

Saudi Arabia, which leads a coalition against the Houthis and imposed an air and sea blockade on Yemen in 2015, has not issued an immediate response. However, the kingdom has been relying on its East-West Pipeline to the Red Sea as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which remains under Iranian control after a U.S.-Israel attack in February. The pipeline transports about 4.5 million barrels of oil per day, but the Houthi embargo could put 2.5 million barrels of that flow at risk, according to energy analysts. Saudi military officials have warned that any threats to transiting vessels would be met with “swift and firm” action, labeling the Houthis’ actions as maritime piracy.

The Houthi blockade also underscores the group’s role within Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” which includes militant networks in Lebanon, Iraq, and the Palestinian territories. The rebels, who seized Sanaa in 2014 and forced the Yemeni government into exile, have framed their actions as a defense of Yemeni sovereignty. In a statement, the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of “plundering resources” and maintaining an “unjust and oppressive siege” for 12 years. They pledged to “confront any foolish act” by Riyadh with “comprehensive and decisive escalation,” while rallying supporters in cities like Ibb, Saada, and Taiz.

Regional experts remain divided on the Houthi strategy. Some suggest the group may avoid resuming large-scale attacks on shipping to prevent a U.S. Military response, given their dwindling drone stockpiles and supply chain challenges exacerbated by the Iran war. Others warn that the embargo could further destabilize the Red Sea, a vital corridor for global energy trade. The U.S. And Israel previously conducted air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen to curb their attacks on shipping, but a 2025 deal halted such operations. The current situation, however, risks reigniting conflict as the Houthis seek to assert control over Yemen’s airspace and maritime routes.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry condemned the Houthi declaration, accusing the group of “dragging Yemen into the regional conflict” and worsening the humanitarian crisis. The kingdom has also criticized the Houthis for targeting commercial ships, which it claims has hindered Yemeni citizens’ access to essential goods. Meanwhile, the Houthis have called for international support, framing their embargo as a legitimate response to decades of economic and military pressure from Saudi-led forces.