Houthis Enter the Chat. Yemen Proclaims 'Embargo' of Red Sea Shipping From Saudi Arabia

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels declared a “maritime embargo” against Saudi Arabia on Monday, marking a sharp departure from the “stay on the sidelines” policy the Houthis have observed since the first round of U.S.-Iran hostilities last summer. This escalation threatens Red Sea shipping routes and an additional challenge to global energy supplies.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced the embargo in a televised statement, saying:

The Yemen armed forces affirm their complete readiness for all options and that any foolishness committed by the reckless Saudi enemy through a full-scale escalation, we will confront with a full-scale and harsh escalation by God's will and power.

In an email sent Monday by the Houthis’ Sanaa-based Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), shippers were warned, "Vessels are banned from loading or discharging cargo at or from any Saudi ports." The email also said, "We strongly recommend that your company exercise due diligence and the utmost care in all its dealings.” It further warned, "Any such activity would expose the violating vessels to sanctions. Furthermore, they may be subject to targeting in any location within the operational reach of the Yemeni Armed Forces."

Iran Turns to Houthis As Hezbollah Looks for Exit Ramp – RedState

Do the Houthis Want a Piece of the Iran War or Are They Just Shooting Their Mouth Off? – RedState

This announcement targets Saudi oil exports and commercial vessels linked to the kingdom, particularly those departing from Red Sea ports such as Yanbu, which handle millions of barrels of oil daily from the Petroline pipeline that allows the Saudis to bypass the Strait of Hormuz; see Latest News Shows Why Strait of Hormuz Move by Iran Continues to Unravel – RedState.

Rather than admit that Sanaa was marching to the tune set by Tehran, the Houthi spokesman framed the decision in terms of the ongoing war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

On Monday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said Saudi Arabia had imposed an "unjust and oppressive siege on our dear people for nearly 12 years, plundering our resources and imposing a comprehensive blockade on our ports and airports by land, sea, and air".
He then announced that the group had decided to respond by declaring a "maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of 'an eye for an eye'".

The Saudi Foreign Ministry released a statement that, in best Saudi behavior, says nothing beyond "we've haven't besieged Yemen for 12 years."

The Saudi embargo, together with the ongoing war with Iran, means that about a quarter of the world's oil shipments must navigate a war zone.

In the hours after the announcement, the Houthis have not attacked shipping with drones or missiles, nor have there been attempts by the Houthis to board vessels. The threat of attack seems to have done the job. According to the Jerusalem Post, "Two oil tankers that loaded Saudi crude for China and India made U-turns in the Red Sea on Tuesday and headed toward the Suez."

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