The Houthi militia announced on Monday a "maritime blockade" against Saudi Arabia, effective immediately, in a new escalation that signals a widening of tensions in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb strait. This move reinforces growing accusations that the group is executing an Iranian agenda aimed at pressuring the United States and its allies by threatening a vital global maritime route.
Yahya Saree, the militia's military spokesperson, stated in a video message that the group decided to impose the blockade on Saudi Arabia under what they termed a "blockade for blockade" equation. He threatened further "escalatory measures" and "comprehensive and severe escalation" should Riyadh take any action, asserting the group's readiness to implement "all options."
This announcement comes amid ongoing U.S. strikes on military and critical infrastructure within Iran for the ninth consecutive day. It also coincides with increasing indications of Houthi involvement in an Iranian strategy to utilize the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb as regional leverage, following heightened confrontation between Tehran and Washington.
Multiple sources had confirmed in recent days that Iran had requested the Houthis prepare to close the Bab al-Mandeb strait, through which approximately 12 percent of global energy trade passes, in the event of U.S. attacks on Iranian energy facilities. This is concurrent with reports of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps reinforcing its military presence in Houthi-controlled areas and deploying more missiles and drones on highlands overlooking Red Sea ports and the Gulf of Aden.
Observers believe the Houthi declaration represents the first public breach of the UN-brokered truce from April 2022. It also follows hours after the failure of efforts led by the UN Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to contain the crisis between the legitimate government and the militia concerning flights to and from Sanaa. The UN envoy attempted to persuade both parties to accept a Jordanian initiative for regular commercial flights between Sanaa and Amman. However, the Houthis maintained additional conditions, including funding salaries for employees in their controlled areas, receiving a share of oil and gas revenues, and lifting restrictions on ports under their control, which led to the mediation's collapse.
In parallel with the "maritime blockade" announcement, the militia called on its supporters to continue general mobilization, raise readiness levels, support fronts, and prepare for what they described as "potential scenarios," indicating the group's direction toward further military escalation.
