Aden (South24 Center)

The Iran-aligned Houthi militia announced on Monday (July 20) an immediate maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, marking a new escalation following days of military and political tensions linked to unauthorized Iranian flights to Houthi-controlled Sanaa Airport.

In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had decided to impose a “maritime navigation ban on the Saudi enemy” under what he described as a “blockade for blockade” equation. He added that the decision took effect immediately upon the statement’s issuance.

Saree accused Saudi Arabia of imposing a comprehensive land, sea and air blockade on Yemen for nearly 12 years, arguing that his group had the right to respond to a blockade with a similar measure and to confront any broader escalation with an equivalent response.

The statement did not specify whether the declared measure would apply to Saudi-flagged vessels, ships sailing to or from Saudi ports, or other Saudi-linked commercial traffic. It also provided no details about the geographical scope of the blockade, the ports or vessels that could be targeted, or the mechanisms through which it would be enforced.

Saree said Houthi forces were in “full readiness for all options” and warned that any Saudi escalation would be met with a “comprehensive and harsh escalation.” He also called on the group’s supporters to maintain what he described as general mobilization and alert, prepare for possible developments and reinforce the frontlines.

In separate remarks, Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam said the decision to restrict Saudi maritime navigation was a step the group had been “forced to take” in response to what he described as Riyadh’s refusal to respond peacefully to its demands.

Abdulsalam said the group’s military position was intended to pressure Saudi Arabia into fully lifting what the Houthis describe as a blockade on Yemen’s airports and seaports.

As of publication, Saudi Arabia had not issued an immediate official response to the announcement.

The declaration follows a sharp escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia over attempts to operate direct Iranian flights to Sanaa Airport without authorization from Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

On July 13, the Yemeni Ministry of Defense said its forces had targeted the runway at Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian Mahan Air aircraft from landing after it entered Yemeni airspace without official clearance. The aircraft was unable to land in Sanaa and was subsequently diverted to the Houthi-controlled Hodeidah Airport.

The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out the strike and later announced that they had targeted Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia with ballistic missiles and drones. Saudi authorities said air defenses had intercepted a ballistic missile threat launched toward the Kingdom’s southern region.

On July 18, Yemeni Transport Minister Mohsen Al-Amri said the authorities had prevented another Mahan Air aircraft from continuing its journey to Sanaa and forced it to turn back while flying over Omani airspace because it lacked the required permits and had not followed the approved procedures.

The Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority in Aden also issued a circular requiring all airlines, international organizations and flight operators to obtain prior authorization before entering Yemeni airspace. It stressed that it remains the country’s sole internationally recognized authority empowered to issue flight permits.

The Presidential Leadership Council similarly affirmed that no foreign aircraft would be permitted to enter Yemeni airspace, land or operate flights to any airport in the country without explicit approval from the government and the relevant authorities.

The dispute coincided with Jordan’s announcement on Friday (July 17) of an initiative to resume regular Royal Jordanian flights between Amman and Sanaa after completing the necessary technical and logistical arrangements. Jordan said the initiative was intended to address humanitarian needs and support Saudi efforts to advance peace in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government welcomed the Jordanian initiative, while the Houthis dismissed it as a media maneuver and demanded the full reopening of Sanaa Airport to all destinations without restrictions, including direct flights to Tehran.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg welcomed Jordan’s announcement and expressed hope that the initiative would contribute to broader understandings aimed at preserving the gains of the 2022 truce.

Grundberg concluded a visit to Riyadh on Sunday (July 19), where he met with Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi, Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber and representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

According to the envoy’s office, the discussions focused on the urgent need for immediate de-escalation and an agreed path that preserves the relative calm achieved since the 2022 truce, while insulating Yemen from wider regional conflict.