The Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia "expressed the strongest condemnation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the statements made by the so-called military spokesman of the Houthi terrorist militia... about imposing a maritime blockade on the Kingdom".
The Foreign Ministry's statement also affirmed that Riyadh "continues to support the brotherly Yemeni people and the legitimate government of this country". The Yemeni government is backed by Saudi Arabia and internationally recognized, led by Mr. Rashad al-Alimi.
When the Houthi forces in Yemen declared a sea embargo against Saudi Arabia on July 20, spokesman Yahya Saree emphasized that the ban would take effect immediately. Mr. Saree said that the closure of the Bab al-Mandab strait was in response to Saudi Arabia blockading "ports and airports" of the Houthi and targeting Sanaa airport.
Last week, Saudi Arabia and Houthi forces clashed for the first time in many years. Fighting broke out when an Iranian plane tried to land in Sanaa, challenging Saudi Arabia's influence over Yemen's airspace.
The Houthi statement was made in the context of Iran's declaration that it has returned to a "comprehensive war" with the US and Washington as well as Tehran competing for control of the Strait of Hormuz.
If implemented, the blockade by the Houthi forces could put more pressure on the Saudi Arabian economy because it would cut off access to the Red Sea ports, which are very important for oil exports, in the context of fighting that restricts travel through the Strait of Hormuz.
The blockade is also expected to harm markets dependent on Saudi Arabia - a country that produces more than 10 million barrels of crude oil per day.
Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric warned that the threat from the Houthi forces risks leading to a regional conflict "even wider".
Previously, Houthi forces tried to cut off maritime transport through the Red Sea by controlling the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Security expert Andreas Krieg of King's College London shared with AFP that Tehran may ask the Houthi forces to "prepare the Bab al-Mandab front and may provide strategic triggers, especially if US pressure weakens Iran's position around the Strait of Hormuz".
A simultaneous crisis in Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab will cause a much greater shock than just 1 in 2 blockades," he added.
He pointed out that disruptions in Hormuz limit the export of oil and liquefied natural gas of the Gulf region, while disruptions in Bab al-Mandab paralyze the main maritime route between Asia, the Gulf and Europe.
Previously, the Houthi carried out attacks on ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab waterway route starting from November 2023 when the conflict in Gaza broke out, forcing ships to take very long detours around Africa.
Mr. Krieg noted that the blockade will cause very serious damage to Saudi Arabia because most of its oil is sold to the Asian market.
With Bab al-Mandab closed, ships will have to go north through the Suez Canal, cross the Mediterranean, pass through the Strait of Gibraltar and circle around Africa before reaching Asia.
