Bab el-Mandeb Blockade: Houthis Declare Naval Embargo on Saudi Arabia

YEMEN’S HOUTHI – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – The Bab el-Mandeb blockade is now a real threat to global trade. Yemen’s Houthi group announced this week that it will stop Saudi ships from using the key Red Sea route. The move came right after the Yahya Saree statement Houthi blockade was read out on live television. Saree, who speaks for the Houthi military, said the ban starts at once.

He called it “an eye for an eye.” His words followed a rise in fighting between the Houthis and Saudi forces. Just days before, missiles hit airports on both sides. That clash broke a truce that had held for years.

You may wonder why a small strait causes big waves. Bab el-Mandeb is a narrow gateway. Ships use it to move oil from the Gulf to the rest of the world. When this route closes, oil takes longer and costs more to ship.

Saudi Arabia sends much of its oil through this path. If ships cannot pass, the kingdom must find other ways to sell its oil. One option is the East-West Pipeline. But this pipeline cannot carry as much oil as ships can.

The roots of this fight go back many years. Houthi forces took over Yemen’s capital in 2014. Saudi Arabia then led a group of nations against them. A truce came in 2022, and peace held for a while.

That calm broke last week. Saudi forces struck an airport in Sanaa. The Houthis said the strike put their leaders at risk during a flight home. In response, they fired missiles and drones at a Saudi airport.

Iran’s Role in the Conflict

Iran backs the Houthi group. Reports say Tehran had asked the Houthis to be ready to block Red Sea oil routes. This request came as fighting grew between Iran and the United States in recent months.

Even so, the Houthis had stayed calm toward Saudi Arabia until now. They did not want to open a new front while other battles raged. That patience ran out after the airport strike.

No one knows yet how strict this naval ban will be. The Houthis have not shared exact details. Ships may face new checks, delays, or full bans, depending on how events unfold.

World leaders are watching closely. Oil prices already moved after the news broke. Traders fear more supply problems if the blockade holds.

For now, both sides remain on edge. Saudi Arabia has not given an official reply. The world waits to see if this crisis will grow or calm down in the days ahead.