Houthis say navigation remains safe in Bab al-Mandeb
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- Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of misleading the international community over navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
- Group says it has the right to target what it calls “hostile Saudi military buildups.”
The Houthis’ foreign ministry said navigation remains safe in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, accusing Saudi Arabia of attempting to “mislead the international community” about the strategic waterway.
In a statement carried by the Houthi-controlled Saba news agency, the ministry said the group considers itself entitled to target what it described as “hostile Saudi military buildups.”
The statement called on the international community to pressure Saudi Arabia to stop what the Houthis described as interference in Yemen.
“If the world desires stability and calm in the region, it must tell Saudi Arabia: ‘Enough interference in Yemeni affairs,’” the ministry said.
The Houthis have previously said their restrictions on the Bab al-Mandeb would ap
ply only to Saudi vessels, while ships from other countries would remain free to navigate the strait.
The Bab al-Mandeb is a major maritime route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean, making security around the waterway a key concern for international shipping.
The latest statement comes amid continued regional tensions and competing claims over the safety of commercial navigation through the strategic passage.
