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Houthi Naval Blockade Targets Saudi Ports Amid Expanding Iran‑US Conflict
Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthi movement announced a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, ordering a naval blockade of the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait and warning that ships loading or unloading at Saudi ports could be attacked. The declaration, made by military spokesperson Yahya Saree, was framed as “eye for an eye” retaliation for a Saudi‑led siege of Yemen and a recent strike on Sanaa International Airport.
Saudi Arabia condemned the move as illegal and said it would protect its vessels, while the United States reiterated its commitment to intervene if Red Sea shipping is disrupted. At the same time, Iran intensified missile and drone attacks on U.S.‑linked facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, marking the tenth consecutive night of exchanges with U.S. forces. The broader Iran‑U.S. war, which began on 7 July, has already seen U.S. casualties and strikes on Iranian sites, and has disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The combined threats have pushed global oil prices higher, with Brent crude near $92 a barrel and U.S. gasoline approaching $4 per gallon. Analysts warn that even the threat of Houthi attacks could tighten shipments, raise freight and insurance costs, and affect economies reliant on oil imports, such as India. Regional governments, including Kuwait and Qatar, have called for freedom of navigation under international law.