Saudi Arabia Condemns Houthi Sea Blockade, Vows Firm Response

The Saudi Arabian government has strongly condemned the Houthi rebel group’s announcement of a sea blockade against the Kingdom. Riyadh has affirmed it will take “all necessary measures” to protect its ships.

The Saudi-led Coalition Joint Forces Command, as reported by Al Arabiya and Middle East Monitor on Tuesday (21/7/2026), stated that any threat from the Yemen-based Houthis would be met with a “firm and forceful” response.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strong condemnation of the statement issued by a figure described as the military spokesman for the terrorist Houthi militia, which accuses the Kingdom of besieging the friendly Yemeni people and claims the imposition of a sea blockade against the Kingdom,” read the Saudi Foreign Ministry statement.

Earlier, in an announcement on Monday (20/7) morning, the Houthis said they would impose a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, citing the aim of preventing Riyadh from bypassing the Strait of Hormuz to export energy supplies and other goods.

In response, the Saudi Foreign Ministry stressed that Riyadh would take “all necessary measures” to protect its ships in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Separately, the spokesman for the Coalition Joint Forces Command, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said the coalition had established specific measures for ships transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Al-Maliki also stressed that any threat from the Houthis would be met with a “firm and forceful” response. He further stated that the Houthi threat violates international law and constitutes an act of maritime piracy.

The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, in a statement broadcast by Al-Masirah television on Monday (20/7), declared that the ban on Saudi-related maritime navigation “has come into effect from the moment this statement is delivered.” Saree, as reported by TRT World, said the move was a response to the Saudi blockade of Houthi-controlled “ports and airports” in Yemen, as well as the attack on Sanaa International Airport last week. Saree stressed that the Houthis would retaliate with “a blockade for a blockade”. “Any foolish action by the reckless Saudi enemy through any form of escalation will be met with a comprehensive and firm escalation,” he said.