Saudi Arabia rejects Houthi blockade claims, vows to protect shipping
via The Reporter Ethiopia6 min read
Saudi Arabia on Monday rejected accusations by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement that it was imposing a blockade on Yemen. This rejection came after the Houthi group announced it would immediately begin a maritime blockade of the kingdom, escalating tensions that could threaten regional shipping and global energy supplies. The Houthis stated their naval embargo on Saudi Arabia was in retaliation for what they called an “unjust and oppressive siege” imposed on Yemen by the kingdom, declaring it a “maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy” based on the principle of “an eye for an eye.” Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry dismissed the Houthi allegations as false and affirmed that the kingdom would take “all necessary measures” to safeguard its commercial shipping and protect vessels in its waters. Despite the Houthi claims, shipping data indicates that cargo vessels have continued to call at the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah, delivering essential goods. This exchange highlights the risk that the Yemen conflict could further disrupt maritime trade in a busy shipping corridor amid heightened instability in the Middle East.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
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