Houthi rebels vow blockade of Saudi vessels in Red Sea
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The news: Houthi forces in Yemen say they will block Saudi Arabia from using Red Sea shipping routes in retaliation for an air strike on Sanaa airport last week.
The Associated Press said the announcement by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree did not explain what a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia would involve.
The context: Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have been fighting since 2015, when the kingdom intervened in Yemen’s civil war to support the internationally recognised government.
Direct hostilities subsided after 2022, but tensions have risen amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, which backs the Houthis.
Houthi leaders accused Saudi Arabia of bombing Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing, Reuters reported last week. The group then fired missiles at Saudi Arabia, which were intercepted by its air defences.
Reuters also reported Iran had asked the Houthis to close the Red Sea oil route if the United States attacked Iranian power infrastructure. Iran claimed the US carried out strikes on its electricity network on Friday night.
Brent crude oil was trading at USD88.12 shortly after the announcement, up 22% over the past two weeks but little changed on the day.
