On Monday, July 20, Yemen’s Houthi militia declared an immediate “maritime embargo” against Saudi Arabia—described by military spokesperson Yahya Saree as an “eye for an eye.” This announcement follows a week of missile and drone exchanges impacting Sanaa’s international airport and Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport. While the specifics of the embargo remain unclear, the threat itself is significant as it raises concerns over the potential disruption of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, coinciding with the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
Who are the Houthis?
The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah (“Partisans of God”), are an armed group affiliated with Yemen’s Zaydi branch of Shia Islam. They originated in northern Yemen during the 1990s and engaged in several insurgencies against the Yemeni government before capturing the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.
This takeover ignited a civil war, leading to Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in 2015 aimed at supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Although fighting has lessened since a UN-brokered truce in 2022, the Houthis maintain control over most of northern Yemen, including Sanaa, where a large portion of the population resides.
The group gained international notoriety following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. They launched missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming to support Palestinians in Gaza. These actions compelled many global shipping companies to reroute their vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, leading to higher transit times and costs.
What is Iran’s relationship with the Houthis?
The Houthis, along with Hezbollah and Hamas, form part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance.” Western nations have long accused Tehran of providing the Houthis with weapons, training, and intelligence, which Iran has denied. Analysts generally consider the Houthis as close allies rather than mere proxies, suggesting that while the group benefits from Iranian support and aligns with some of Tehran’s regional goals, it also follows its own political and military agenda within Yemen.
Despite this, Iran’s relationship with the Houthis allows strategic influence in the Red Sea without necessitating direct military engagement, making the group a crucial element in Tehran’s regional security strategy.
Why does the embargo matter?
The maritime embargo raises significant concerns regarding shipping routes around the Arabian Peninsula, especially given the Houthis’ previous ability to disrupt commercial maritime traffic. During the Gaza conflict, they frequently targeted vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which forced many shipping firms to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope instead of using the Suez Canal.
This new threat could also impact Saudi Arabia’s western coast, including the Red Sea port of Yanbu, a critical export terminal that has facilitated the shipment of millions of barrels of crude oil while circumventing the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran-US tensions. Although the Houthis have yet to detail their methods for enforcing the embargo, the announcement heightens the risk of renewed attacks on commercial shipping and further escalation through one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.
How its impacts India?
For India, any extended disruption may lead to economic repercussions. India heavily depends on crude oil imports from West Asia, while a significant portion of its exports to Europe passes through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Increased shipping insurance costs, longer voyage durations, and higher freight rates could elevate import costs, delay exports, and contribute to inflationary pressures should maritime tensions continue.
