BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 17. Yemen’s Houthi movement has warned Saudi Arabia against escalating what it described as a “blockade on the Yemeni people”, demanding an end to measures that it says are restricting access to the country’s resources.
In a statement, the group said there was “no alternative” to Saudi Arabia lifting what it called its blockade of Yemen, ending military mobilisations and allowing Yemenis access to their resources.
The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have controlled large parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since seizing the city in 2014. The group has since been engaged in a conflict with the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised Yemeni government based in Aden.
The latest warning comes amid heightened tensions over maritime routes and energy exports in the region.
On July 20, the Houthis announced what they described as a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. The move came after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz forced Riyadh to shift more of its oil exports toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The developments have increased concerns over the security of another major maritime corridor linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider international shipping network.
Any further escalation involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis could have consequences for oil transportation, regional trade and maritime security, particularly as disruptions continue to affect major shipping routes in the Middle East.
