Yemen and Saudi Arabia Counter Houthi Red Sea Attacks

The Government of Yemen and its Saudi-led coalition have increased military readiness following a series of Houthi militia attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Yemeni Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani and Defence Minister Taher al-Aqili condemned the strikes as part of an "Iranian agenda" designed to destabilize global maritime safety and supply chains. These statements followed a report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations regarding a projectile splash near a commercial tanker in the southern Red Sea.

The Houthi militia claimed to have targeted three Saudi oil tankers within a 48-hour period and shot down a Saudi Arabian Bayraktar AKINCI reconnaissance drone over Al-Jawf province. Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined the condemnation, specifically citing a strike on the Saudi ship NCC MASA as a flagrant violation of international law.

In response, the Yemeni Armed Forces declared a state of high operational readiness to restore state authority and secure maritime routes in coordination with the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen. Saudi Ambassador Mohammed Al Jaber further accused the Houthis of blocking commercial flights at Sanaa International Airport. While the coalition continues strikes against Houthi military sites, the Yemeni government maintains that ports such as Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Issa remain open to commercial traffic, reporting over 300 ship entries in the first half of 2026.