Houthis threaten ships in Saudi ports

Sanaa: Yemen’s Houthis have warned international shipping companies that ships trading with Saudi ports could face military action, in what appears to be an escalation, following the group’s announcement of a maritime blockade imposed on Saudi Arabia.

An email notice, circulated last night by the Sana’a-based group’s Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre, specified that the warnings concern not only Saudi-flagged vessels but also those loading or unloading goods in Saudi ports.

The notice urges maritime operators to exercise “due diligence” in planning voyages involving Saudi ports, warning that vessels engaged in these commercial activities could become “targets” of attacks within the Houthis’ range, Italian News Agency Adnkronos reported.

The warning came just hours after the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi ships. Regional governments, including Kuwait and Qatar, rejected the Houthi move and reiterated their support for freedom of navigation under international law. So far, no attack on a commercial vessel has been reported under the new measures.

The development comes amid renewed tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, following a dispute over the Houthi-controlled Sana’a International Airport. On July 13, the Saudi-backed Yemeni government stated that it had struck the runway of Sana’a airport to prevent an Iranian plane carrying an important Houthi delegation, returning from funeral ceremonies for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, from landing.

The Houthis attributed the attack to Riyadh and launched missiles and drones towards the Kingdom. In the past, the Houthis have used missiles, drones, and naval weapons against ships accused of being linked to Israel and the United States during the war in Gaza, forcing shipping companies to divert vessels from the Red Sea, a vital corridor for international trade and energy shipments.

This latest development could further increase risks for commercial navigation in the region, in the context of the conflict between the United States and Iran for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Yemen has been ravaged by conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis captured the capital Sana’a and much of the north of the country, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in support of the Yemeni government in 2015. The latest developments have fueled fears that the de-escalation initiated with the 2022 United Nations truce could fail.

IANS