Houthis Say They’ll Block Saudi Shipping at Red Sea Gateway After Embargo

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have announced they will impose a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, with immediate effect, threatening another disruption at the Bab al-Mandeb strait. In a video statement, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi shipping would be blocked as “an eye for an eye” response to what they call a blockade on Yemen’s ports and airports, plus recent attacks blamed on Saudi forces. The group earlier disrupted traffic in the same region by targeting vessels during the Israel-Gaza war, raising shipping-fear concerns again.