Yemen’s Houthis have issued a warning to international shipping companies, threatening military action against ships engaged in trade with Saudi ports. The notice, shared by the group’s Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre in Sana’a, extends the caution to vessels loading or unloading goods in Saudi ports. Ships involved in these activities are advised to exercise caution as they could be targeted within the Houthis’ operational range, as reported by the Italian News Agency Adnkronos.
The warning follows the Houthis’ declaration of a maritime blockade on Saudi ships. Despite this, regional governments like Kuwait and Qatar have rejected the blockade, emphasizing their commitment to upholding freedom of navigation as per international law. No incidents involving attacks on commercial vessels have been reported under the new restrictions.
Tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia have escalated recently due to a disagreement over the Sana’a International Airport, controlled by the Houthis. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government claimed to have targeted the airport’s runway on July 13 to prevent an Iranian plane carrying a significant Houthi delegation from landing after attending funeral ceremonies for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Houthis blamed Riyadh for the attack and retaliated by launching missiles and drones towards Saudi Arabia.
In the past, the Houthis have utilized missiles, drones, and naval weapons against ships allegedly associated with Israel and the United States during the Gaza conflict, leading to shipping companies rerouting vessels away from the Red Sea, a crucial global trade and energy route. This latest development heightens concerns for commercial navigation in the region, especially amid the ongoing US-Iran tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since late 2014 when the Houthis seized Sana’a and a significant portion of the country’s north, prompting a Saudi-led coalition intervention in support of the Yemeni government in 2015. The recent events raise apprehensions about the sustainability of the de-escalation efforts initiated with the 2022 United Nations truce.
