SerpApi.Org
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement on Monday announced an immediate naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, sharply escalating tensions days after the group resumed missile attacks on the kingdom and ended a four-year period of relative calm.
In a televised address, the group's military spokesperson declared "a maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of 'an eye for an eye' effective immediately upon the issuance of this statement."
The Houthis said the move was retaliation for what they described as Saudi Arabia's long-running blockade of Yemen.
"The unjust and oppressive siege on our dear people for nearly 12 years, plundering our resources and imposing a comprehensive blockade on our ports and airports by land, sea, and air," the group said.
ESCALATION AFTER MISSILE STRIKES
The announcement comes less than a week after the Houthis fired missiles at Saudi Arabia, accusing Riyadh of carrying out airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport, which is under Houthi control. The missile attacks marked the first publicly claimed Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia since an informal truce took effect in March 2022.
They also warned airlines against using Saudi airspace until what they called the "siege" on Sanaa airport was lifted.
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted missiles launched towards its southern region. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had targeted Abha International Airport in the southern Saudi city of Abha.
The exchange ended years of relative calm along the Saudi-Yemen border and raised concerns about a renewed confrontation between Riyadh and the Iran-backed movement.
However, Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, said its own forces carried out the strike on the airport's runway to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The government accused Tehran of violating Yemen's sovereignty and warned that any hostile aircraft entering the country's airspace would be dealt with "by all available means."
Officials later said the Iranian aircraft landed instead at Hodeidah airport on Yemen's Red Sea coast.
