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.
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fight...
Police were deployed across Paris on Saturday, as a curfew was set to take effect in the Republique and Chât...
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said....
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Police were deployed across Paris on Saturday, as a curfew was set to take effect in the Republique and Châtelet-Les Halles areas from 11pm Saturday until 6am Sunday (1 November).
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education and living costs. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, as a hostile group, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Thousands protested in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Saturday (31 October), demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over perceived corruption allegations and dissatisfaction with the government over a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment