Houthis Announce Naval Blockade Against Saudi Arabia, Warn of Escalation

SANAA (Terror Monitor) — Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement has announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, escalating tensions in the region amid ongoing disputes over access to Houthi-controlled territory.

In a statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group was acting under the principle of "an eye for an eye," accusing what he called the "enemy Saudi Arabia" of maintaining an "unjust and oppressive" blockade on Yemen.

The statement warned Riyadh against further escalation, adding that the Houthis "are prepared for all possible scenarios."

The Houthis, who call themselves Ansar Allah, control roughly one-third of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, the strategic port of Hodeidah, and much of the country's Red Sea coastline. The internationally recognized Yemeni government, backed by Saudi Arabia, controls Aden and other parts of southern and eastern Yemen.

The announcement comes after an Iranian Mahan Air flight traveled from Tehran to Sanaa on July 4 before returning to Iran a few hours later. It was the first direct flight between the two cities in 11 years.

A second flight from Tehran last week was reportedly diverted to Hodeidah Airport after runways at Sanaa International Airport were damaged by airstrikes. The aircraft later returned to Tehran.

The Saudi-backed Yemeni government in Aden has said Mahan Air's flights to Sanaa violate its control over Yemeni airspace. The Houthis, however, argue that restrictions on flights to Sanaa amount to an illegal air blockade.

Regional analysts say the Houthis could attempt to disrupt shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, potentially creating a situation similar to Iran's threats involving the Strait of Hormuz. Any prolonged disruption at Bab al-Mandeb, one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints, could significantly affect global trade and energy supplies.