Yemen's Houthis declare blockade on Saudi Arabia, raising Red Sea tensions

Yemen's Houthis declare blockade on Saudi Arabia, raising Red Sea tensions Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 17:01 Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian oil shipments could send energy prices higher and open a new front in the Iran war Fighters supporting the Aden-based internationally recognised Yemeni government gather during a vigil along the Red Sea shore in al-Khokha, in Yemen's western Hodeidah province, calling for a resumption of hostilities with the Houthis, on 20 July 2026 (Khaled Ziad/ AFP) Off Yemen’s Houthis announced a maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia on Monday, escalating tensions with Riyadh in the Red Sea at a time when it is serving as a linchpin for global energy markets. The Houthis did not say how they planned to impose the embargo, but it comes as tensions with Riyadh were already rising over the status of flights to Sanaa, the capital of Yemen held by the Houthis. Saudi Arabian Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman has suggested to counterparts that Riyadh has wide latitude from the Trump administration to conduct offensive strikes on the group, but other elements of the Saudi Arabian government say the kingdom’s posture is solely defensive, Middle East Eye reported recently.