Yemen’s Houthi movement has announced an immediate naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, raising concerns over further disruptions to global shipping and energy supplies through the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The Iran-aligned group, also known as Ansar Allah, made the announcement shortly after threatening a “siege” against Saudi Arabia in response to an attack on Sanaa International Airport last week. The development comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, which have already created instability in global energy markets and affected key maritime routes.
In its statement, the Houthi group said the naval blockade was a response based on the principle of “an eye for an eye,” claiming it was retaliating against what it described as a long-standing blockade imposed on Yemen. The group accused Saudi Arabia of restricting access to Yemeni ports and airports for nearly 12 years and warned that any further actions would result in a stronger response.
The Houthis also announced their readiness for various scenarios and called for increased mobilisation among their supporters. However, it remains unclear how the group intends to enforce the announced blockade or whether it will resume attacks on international shipping routes.
The group had previously disrupted maritime trade around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in 2023 by targeting commercial vessels. Those attacks reduced after a Gaza ceasefire agreement last year. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is one of the world’s most crucial shipping corridors, located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa.
At its narrowest point, the strait is only around 29 kilometres wide, with ships moving through limited navigation channels. In 2024, an estimated 4.1 billion barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products, accounting for nearly 5% of global petroleum trade, passed through this route.
Analysts warn that any disruption to Bab al-Mandeb could have a significant impact on global energy markets, especially as tensions in the region continue to affect other major waterways. With the Strait of Hormuz already facing restrictions amid US-Iran tensions, further instability at Bab al-Mandeb could threaten a major portion of global oil and gas transportation.
The situation could particularly affect Saudi Arabia’s oil exports. With traditional routes through Hormuz disrupted, Saudi Arabia has increasingly depended on its 1,201-kilometre East-West pipeline, which transports crude from the Abqaiq oil field to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. From Yanbu, oil shipments travel through Bab al-Mandeb to reach Asian markets.
Recent ship-tracking data indicates that exports from Yanbu have increased significantly, with shipments averaging around 4 million barrels per day compared with approximately 973,000 barrels per day a year earlier. Petroleum flows through Bab al-Mandeb reportedly reached about 7.4 million barrels per day in June, highlighting the strategic importance of the waterway to global energy supplies.
The latest Houthi announcement has added another layer of uncertainty to an already fragile regional security situation, with governments and shipping companies closely monitoring developments in the Red Sea and Gulf regions.
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