Yemen’s Houthis Announce Naval Blockade on Saudi Shipping, Raising Threat to Red Sea Trade
PARIS, July 20, Saudi Arabia Breaking News — Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday that they would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, threatening to open another front in the widening conflict between the United States and Iran.
The announcement raises new risks for global energy supplies and maritime trade beyond the Gulf, particularly after the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz increased the strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Following the Houthi declaration, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it would respond with force. The coalition also announced that it had begun implementing measures to protect vessels travelling through Bab el-Mandeb.
The narrow waterway, located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and provides access to the Suez Canal. It is a critical route for Saudi oil exports and international shipping between Europe and Asia.
Nearly 15% of global maritime trade passes through Bab el-Mandeb. Industry estimates indicate that disruptions to Red Sea shipping between 2023 and 2025 generated additional costs of approximately $20 billion annually.
Video footage showed Houthi supporters gathering in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, on Monday night in support of the blockade announcement.
The escalation followed several deadly incidents involving US military personnel. The Pentagon identified two American soldiers killed in an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on Friday and said unidentified remains had been recovered that could belong to a third soldier reported missing.
A fourth US service member was killed in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone.
The Houthi announcement came despite indications that Tehran and Washington may be seeking to resume diplomatic contacts. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said mediators had presented proposals to Tehran but did not disclose further details.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait has remained largely navigable during the conflict, despite previous Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. Any sustained attempt to block the passage could force more ships to avoid the Red Sea and travel around southern Africa, increasing transport times and costs.
