The Houthi movement has declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, threatening to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait in retaliation for a blockade on Yemen.
Key facts
- •Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea declared the maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia effective immediately.
- •The Bab el-Mandeb strait is a 32-kilometer-wide passage essential for global container trade and access to the Suez Canal.
- •The Houthis previously demonstrated their capacity to disrupt Red Sea shipping during a campaign linked to the Gaza war that involved over 100 attacks on vessels.
- •Saudi Arabia has not yet issued an official response to the Houthi announcement.
- •The UN reports that more than 22 million people in Yemen are in need of some form of aid due to the ongoing conflict.
Yemen's Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, has announced an immediate maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea described the move as an "eye for an eye" response to what the group characterizes as a long-standing Saudi blockade on Yemen and a recent strike on Sanaa International Airport. The announcement has raised concerns over the potential closure of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical global shipping artery.
By the numbers
Threats to Global Shipping
The Bab el-Mandeb strait, a 32-kilometer-wide waterway connecting the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, serves as a vital transit point for approximately 12% of global trade and one-quarter of global container traffic. Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, stated on social media that the group intends to close the strait to Saudi vessels. A closure of this route would force shipping companies to divert vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to transit times between Asia and Europe and significantly increasing costs.
Context of Escalating Conflict
The announcement follows a recent escalation in hostilities, including a Houthi missile attack on Abha airport in Saudi Arabia. The Houthis stated this was in retaliation for air strikes on Sanaa’s airport, which the Saudi-backed Yemeni government claimed were intended to prevent an unauthorized Iranian plane from landing. This marks a significant rise in tensions in a conflict that has been largely dormant since an informal truce began in 2022. Yemen's civil war, which began in 2014, has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and a severe humanitarian crisis.
Timeline
- 2014The Yemeni civil war began when the Houthis ousted the government from Sanaa.
- 2022An informal truce took effect between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
- October 2023The Houthis began attacking merchant vessels in the Red Sea following the start of the Gaza war.
- MondayHouthi officials announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia.
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