NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia has dismissed Houthi claims of a blockade on Yemeni ports and airports as a deliberate disinformation campaign, telling the United Nations Security Council that the group’s attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea amount to maritime piracy and require a firm international response.
Addressing a Security Council debate on the peaceful settlement of disputes on Thursday, Faisal Meshari T. Almadi, Minister Plenipotentiary and Head of the Security Council and Political Affairs Division at Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said the Houthis were spreading false narratives to mislead the international community.
He urged the UN and its member states to fully implement Security Council Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722, which reaffirms the right to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, warning that inaction would embolden further attacks and undermine international maritime security.
Almadi said the current security environment, marked by rising regional tensions and disruptions to vital global trade routes, highlighted the need for stronger diplomacy, dialogue and more effective international mediation mechanisms.
He stressed that Saudi Arabia considers preventive diplomacy, mediation and confidence-building measures essential to resolving disputes and addressing the root causes of conflict, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
Highlighting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform programme, Almadi said sustainable development, innovation and economic opportunity remain central to Saudi Arabia’s long-term strategy for promoting stability and preventing conflict across the region.
Reaffirming Riyadh’s commitment to peace in Yemen, he said Saudi Arabia had consistently supported all UN-led efforts to end the conflict, including a peace roadmap endorsed by the internationally recognised Yemeni government.
According to Almadi, the Houthis rejected that roadmap and instead became increasingly involved in wider regional tensions, worsening the humanitarian situation for civilians living in areas under their control.
Rejecting allegations that Yemeni ports and airports were under blockade, he said the claims were unsupported by facts. He noted that more than 300 commercial vessels carrying food, fuel, construction materials and other essential goods entered the ports of Hodeidah, Saleef and Ras Isa during the first half of 2026.
He also said the Houthis had repeatedly refused proposals to resume flights to and from Sanaa International Airport, including a recent Jordanian initiative. Instead, he said the group had contributed to the airport’s closure and destroyed a Yemenia passenger aircraft.
Almadi said the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen had announced that it would take all necessary operational measures, in accordance with international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to safeguard commercial shipping passing through the strategic Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
Describing Houthi attacks on merchant vessels as clear violations of international law, he said such actions amounted to maritime piracy and posed a direct threat to one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
He warned that allowing such attacks to continue without effective deterrence would encourage further aggression, weaken regional security and jeopardise the internationally recognised principle of freedom of navigation.
Calling for stronger international action, Almadi urged the global community to condemn attacks on commercial vessels and take practical steps to prevent further violations.
He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to working closely with the United Nations and regional and international partners to promote peace, strengthen security and help build a more stable and prosperous Middle East.
