Houthis Declare Naval Blockade Against Saudi Arabia

The Houthi rebels declared an immediate naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20, 2026. Military spokesperson Yahya Saree described the embargo as an "equation of 'an eye for an eye'" in retaliation for a decade-long Saudi-led blockade of Yemen and a recent strike on Sanaa International Airport. The Houthis claim the airport strike targeted leaders returning from a funeral in Iran, while the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council asserted the operation was necessary to prevent an Iranian plane from landing.

Houthi officials, including Nasruddin Amer, specified that the blockade focuses on the Bab al-Mandeb strait. This escalation follows Houthi missile and drone attacks on Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia. The blockade poses a significant threat to global energy markets because Saudi Arabia has diverted over 70% of its daily crude exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, which was partially closed by Iran on February 28.

The Saudi foreign ministry condemned the move and vowed to protect its vessels under international law. Meanwhile, British security firm Ambrey warned that Saudi-linked ships face a high risk of attack, noting a potential for mistaken identity. The announcement has already caused war risk insurance premiums for Red Sea shipping to rise from 0.3% to approximately 0.75% of vessel value.