Houthis Block Nearly 50 Saudi Oil Tankers in Yemeni Naval Embargo

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have imposed a naval embargo on Saudi Arabia, blocking nearly 50 oil tankers from passing through the Bab el Mandeb strait since July 20. The Houthis claim to have attacked eight Saudi oil tankers, five in the Red Sea and three in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, as part of their efforts to disrupt Saudi oil exports.

According to Yahya Sari, military spokesman for the Houthi rebels, the group has also prevented 48 Saudi oil tankers from passing through the strait, with 34 unable to transit through the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, and another 14 unable to cross the Red Sea.

The Houthis have urged Saudi authorities not to escalate their actions, warning that they will receive a strong response if they do. The group has also called on Yemeni citizens living in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government to leave those areas, fearing they may be attacked or turned into victims.