Sanaa: Yemen’s Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree has declared maritime navigation in the Red Sea safe for all vessels except Saudi ships, warning that the group will continue escalating military action against Saudi Arabia until its blockade of Yemen is lifted.
Saree said Saudi vessels remained subject to the Houthi ban, while other commercial shipping could continue navigating the Red Sea safely.
He also pledged to step up military operations against Saudi forces until what he described as the blockade on Yemen is ended.
The statement comes as Houthi forces have made advances around the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, raising fresh concerns over the security of one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
The Houthis have recently seized strategic positions, including Perim Island and the coastal town of Dhubab near Bab al-Mandab, tightening their grip around the vital waterway connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.