Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement has announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, raising fears of further regional escalation and possible disruption to global energy supplies and key shipping routes.
In a statement on Monday, the Houthi armed forces said they were imposing "a maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy" with immediate effect.
The group said the move was based on what it described as an "eye for an eye" response to what it called an "unjust and oppressive siege" imposed on Yemen by Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh has not immediately responded to the announcement.
The Houthis' announcement has raised concerns about the security of one of the world's most important maritime trade routes.
A full closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea, could disrupt Saudi oil shipments to Asia and potentially affect global oil supplies.
The strait is a vital route for energy exports and international shipping, with millions of barrels of oil passing through it each day.
The announcement comes as global energy markets are already under pressure following a sharp reduction in oil flows linked to the Iran conflict.
Mohammed Albasha, a Yemeni analyst and founder of the Washington-based Basha Report risk advisory firm, said it remained unclear whether the Houthis would move from threats to direct attacks on shipping.
"The question now is whether they will begin targeting vessels heading to Saudi ports. At this stage, there's no clear answer," he said.
"Even if no ships are attacked, the announcement alone is likely to disrupt shipping and create uncertainty for Saudi ports. Whether the Houthis move from threats to direct action remains the critical issue," Albasha added.
The announcement follows Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia last week.
The group said the strikes were carried out in response to Saudi air strikes on an airport under Houthi control.
The attacks marked a renewed escalation between Riyadh and the Iran-aligned movement after a four-year truce in the conflict between the two sides.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "g...
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan signed 22 trade agreements worth more than $200 million during a business forum in Kabul on Sunday, as officials from both ...
U.S. diplomats walked out of a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine after accusing France of making "disingenuous grandstanding" by comparing Washin...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
The Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly reshaping the Caspian region. From threats to energy infrastructure to renewed diplomatic efforts, countries across the region are adapting to the wider consequences of a conflict that continues to disrupt trade, transport and security.
A New York school district has put plans to introduce a humanoid robot into classrooms on hold after fierce criticism from teachers, Indigenous community members and state education officials over the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "good chance" of a deal with Tehran but warned strikes could resume if talks failed.
U.S. diplomats walked out of a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine after accusing France of making "disingenuous grandstanding" by comparing Washington with North Korea, Russia and other authoritarian states.
Meteorologists in China have used a swarm of drones to observe Typhoon Noul as it passed through Guangdong province, aiming to improve weather monitoring and forecasting during extreme storms.
Tehran has stressed that its commercial vessel hit by a Ukrainian drone in the Caspian Sea on Saturday was carrying only civilian cargo and vowed to respond appropriately while holding Kyiv responsible for the attack.
Since 1946, nine people have served as UN Secretary-General, the closest thing the world has to a chief diplomat. The role carries no army and little hard power, yet its occupants have shaped how nations respond to war, famine and global crises. Here are five who left the deepest mark.
Two shallow earthquakes hit a remote area of China's Qinghai province on Tuesday, with authorities reporting no casualties or collapsed buildings so far.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment