You are using an outdated browser For a better experience using this site, please upgrade to a modern web browser. Subscribe Get Daily Email Subscribe --> Contact Us Sign in Home News & Features Compliance Costs Bunker Prices Bunker Intelligence EMEA News Latest Features World Americas EMEA Asia/Pacific Home News & Features EMEA Houthis Declare Maritime Blockade Against Saudi Arabia Houthis Declare Maritime Blockade Against Saudi Arabia by Ship & Bunker News Team Tuesday July 21, 2026 Tweet Follow @shipandbunker The Houthi threat adds to maritime security concerns in the Middle East. File Image / Pixabay Yemen 's Houthi movement on Monday announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia , raising concerns over shipping through the Red Sea . The embargo would take effect immediately under an "eye for an eye" policy, Yahya Saree , spokesperson of Houthi, said in a social media post yesterday. “The Yemeni Armed Forces declare a maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of 'an eye for an eye,' effective immediately upon the issuance of this statement," he said. “We affirm the right of our great people to respond to the blockade with a blockade, and to respond to all escalation with all escalation, thus solidifying this equation.” Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition said it has begun implementing measures to protect commercial ships passing the Bal al-Mandab Strait .  The Houthis previously carried out a series of attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea , prompting many shipowners to divert ships around the Cape of Good Hope instead of using the shorter Suez Canal route While those attacks had eased in recent months, the group's latest maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia has renewed concerns over security in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, adding to the disruption already affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing Iran - US conflict. Ship & Bunker News Team To contact the edit