Yemen's Houthis announce 'maritime embargo' on Saudi Arabia
Yemen's Houthi rebels have declared a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, claiming it is a retaliatory measure against a Saudi blockade of Yemeni ports. This move threatens to disrupt shipping in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical gateway for global oil transit.
Why it matters
The escalation of the Houthi-Saudi conflict poses a direct threat to global energy supplies and international shipping routes in the Red Sea.
Image source, EPA Image caption, The Houthis said the embargo was a response to a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in Yemen
Yemen's Houthis have announced a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia.
The Iran-backed group's military spokesman said it would begin immediately and was in retaliation for a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled north-western Yemen.
He gave few details about the embargo but a Houthi media official said they were closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is the southern gateway to the Red Sea, to Saudi vessels.
There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities.
The Red Sea has become crucial for oil shipments from Saudi Arabia during the US-Israeli war with Iran, which has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.
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