The Houthi declaration on July 20, 2026, serves as a major escalation in the region. As detailed by The New York Times, the move breaks a period of relative sideline status for the militia group during the active U.S.-Iran conflict.
The Trigger:
The Houthis stated the blockade is in retaliation for a Saudi-backed
strike on Sanaa International Airport, which reportedly disrupted an
arriving Iranian delegation. In turn, the Houthis launched a retailatory
strike against Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport
.
The Target:
The blockade specifically targets shipping vessels that use Saudi
Arabian ports. In emails intercepted by maritime security agencies, the
Houthis warned global logistics companies not to load or discharge cargo
in the kingdom, stating such ships could be targeted "in any location".
Immediate Impact on Global Shipping
The
announcement quickly sent ripples through international energy markets
and logistics networks. Because the U.S.-Iran war has heavily restricted
transit through the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has relied on its
Red Sea port of Yanbu to export over 3 million barrels of oil a day.
According to shipping data reported by Reuters, multiple oil tankers have already responded to the threat:
The Xin Long Yang,
a massive carrier holding 2 million barrels of Saudi crude destined for
China, executed a U-turn away from the Houthi-controlled Bab el-Mandeb
strait.
The Rodos, carrying roughly 700,000 barrels of oil bound for India, similarly reversed course toward the Suez Canal.
Shipping
analysts note that forcing Asian-bound tankers to reroute through the
Suez Canal and around Africa adds weeks to delivery schedules,
triggering immediate spikes in war-risk insurance costs.
International Responses
The blockade announcement prompted a swift backlash from both regional and global powers:
Saudi Arabia:
The Saudi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the blockade, calling it
an "unjust siege" and asserting that the kingdom would take all
necessary measures to protect its commercial maritime interests.
United States:
President Donald Trump addressed the threat directly, asserting that
the U.S. would "take care of business" if the Houthis proceeded to
disrupt the critical waterway, pointing to previous successful U.S.
military operations against the group.
Energy Markets:
Global energy benchmarks, including Brent crude oil, pushed past $90 a
barrel as traders weighed the compounded loss of both the Strait of
Hormuz and the Red Sea channels.
Houthis announce Red Sea blockade of Saudi shipping
Houthis
announce Red Sea blockade of Saudi shipping - YouTube. This content
isn't available. The Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen...
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Trump says US will ‘take care’ of Houthis if Red Sea strait blocked
Between
March and May 2025, the U.S. launched a major military operation
against the Houthis, a U.S.-designated terrorist group ba...
The Hill
Saudi Arabia slams Houthi blockade: How will rest of the world be impacted?
Video
Duration 05 minutes 35 seconds 05:35. Houthi maritime blockade
threatens Saudi oil exports, analyst warns. By Al Jazeera Sta...
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