The simmering tensions in the Red Sea have taken a dramatic turn, as Yemen's Houthi movement declared an immediate 'maritime embargo' on Saudi Arabia. This bold move, announced by their military spokesman, is a direct response to what they deem a persistent Saudi blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled north-western Yemen.
The Houthi declaration marks a significant escalation in the largely dormant conflict between the group and Saudi Arabia, which had seen an informal truce in place since 2022. The announcement follows a week of increased hostilities, including Houthi missile strikes on Abha airport in south-western Saudi Arabia, attributed to Saudi air strikes on Sanaa's airport. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government claimed responsibility for the Sanaa strikes, stating their aim was to prevent an unauthorised Iranian plane from landing in the capital.
The conflict in Yemen has its roots in 2014, when the Houthis ousted the government from Sanaa, leading to a civil war that escalated significantly in 2015 with the intervention of a Saudi-led coalition. The devastating consequences have been stark: over 150,000 lives lost and more than 22 million people in need of aid, according to UN figures.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait, connecting the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and ultimately the Suez Canal, is a critical waterway for global shipping. Its closure to Saudi vessels could have far-reaching implications, particularly as the Red Sea has become increasingly crucial for Saudi oil shipments. The shift in shipping routes has been prompted by ongoing regional conflicts, which have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.
Following the Gaza conflict in October 2023, Houthis targeted merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, causing a sharp decline in commercial traffic through Bab al-Mandab. Although these attacks paused with a Gaza ceasefire, transit levels have yet to fully recover. Saudi Arabia has already diverted over 70% of its crude exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, with recent weeks seeing approximately 4 million barrels per day shipped from there – a substantial increase from a year prior.
As Britain's own shipping and trade interests are deeply connected to the stability of the region, this escalation will be closely watched in London. With over £30 billion worth of goods traded annually through the Suez Canal, any disruption could have significant repercussions for UK businesses and consumers alike.