Yemen's Houthis impose naval embargo on Saudi Arabia

The Houthis launched missiles toward Saudi Arabia the prior week after blaming the kingdom for striking an airport they control, ending a four-year ceasefire between the kingdom and the Houthis.

HOUTHI SUPPORTERS hold up weapons as they demonstrate in Sanaa, Yemen, to show solidarity with Lebanon, after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, April 17, 2026.

(photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

ByREUTERS, JAMES GENN

JULY 20, 2026 15:17

Updated: JULY 20, 2026 15:49

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis announced on Monday a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia effective at once, according to their military spokesperson during a televised address.

The militant group declared "a maritime embargo against the Saudi adversary, based on the principle of an eye for an eye effective immediately upon release of this statement."

The group's spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Yahya Saree further noted that any unwise move by the Saudi side would face a full and firm escalation by the Yemeni militants.

The Houthis described the blockade as retaliation for Saudi Arabia's claimed ongoing "unfair and harsh siege on our beloved people for nearly 12 years, exploiting our assets and enforcing a total blockade on our ports and airports by land, sea, and air."

Houthis launched missiles at Saudi Arabia last week

The group launched missiles at Saudi Arabia the prior week after accusing the kingdom of bombing an airport under their control, ending a four-year truce in the conflict between the kingdom and the Iran-backed group.

The strikes marked the first ones claimed by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia since an informal truce began in March 2022 following Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure.