RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned and rejected claims by a Houthi military spokesperson that the group had imposed a maritime blockade on the Kingdom.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strongest condemnation of the allegations made by the so-called military spokesperson of the Houthi terrorist militia, who accused the Kingdom of besieging the brotherly Yemeni people and claimed the imposition of a maritime blockade on the Kingdom”, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
#Statement | The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strongest condemnation of the allegations made by the so-called military spokesperson of the Houthi terrorist militia, who accused the Kingdom of besieging the brotherly Yemeni people and claimed the… pic.twitter.com/YVFHJzgzxS
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) July 20, 2026
The statement also condemned Houthi accusations that the Kingdom has besieged the Yemeni people. The ministry stressed that Riyadh had worked for years alongside Yemen’s internationally recognised government to ease humanitarian suffering.
It said Saudi Arabia had continued to support Yemen through development projects, financial assistance to the Yemeni government’s budget and the provision of petroleum products to operate power stations.
It added that more than 300 commercial vessels carrying food, fuel, construction materials and other essential goods arrived at the northern Yemeni ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Isa during the first half of 2026, describing this as evidence that Houthi claims of a blockade were unfounded.
Saudi Arabia also said the Houthis had repeatedly targeted Yemen’s infrastructure and economy. It cited the attack on Aden Airport in December 2020, which killed and injured dozens of people, as well as strikes on southern Yemen’s oil export facilities in October 2022 that disrupted government revenues and affected the payment of public-sector salaries.
The ministry further stated that the Houthis had seized four Yemenia Airways aircraft in June 2024 that were scheduled to return Yemeni pilgrims from Jeddah, and said the group had undermined efforts to restore normal operations at Sanaa International Airport.
According to the statement, the Houthis have expanded Yemen’s crisis by drawing the country into the wider regional conflict and attacking international commercial shipping in the Red Sea. These actions, it said, have worsened the country’s humanitarian and economic conditions, particularly areas under the control of the Houthi militia.
The ministry said the Houthis had rejected initiatives to resume flights from Sanaa Airport and continued to commit humanitarian violations against Yemeni civilians. It added that the group was attempting to shift responsibility for worsening economic conditions and growing public dissatisfaction by making false accusations against Saudi Arabia.
Reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to peace, the ministry said Saudi Arabia continued to back United Nations-led efforts to end the conflict, including a proposed peace roadmap accepted by Yemen’s legitimate government but not by the Houthis.
The Kingdom also urged the international community to ensure the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722 concerning freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
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Saudi Arabia further affirmed that it would take all necessary measures, in accordance with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to protect its vessels while maintaining its support for Yemen’s legitimate government and people.
Separately, the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen announced that it had begun implementing measures to protect vessels transiting through the Bab El-Mandab Strait.
Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, said any Houthi threats against commercial shipping would be dealt with “swiftly and firmly”, describing such actions as violations of international law and acts of maritime piracy.
Al-Malki also strongly condemned Houthi claims regarding the closure of Yemeni ports and airports, calling them false. He reiterated that more than 300 commercial ships had entered Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Isa ports during the first six months of 2026, carrying food, fuel and other essential supplies.
He further said the Houthis had caused the closure of Sanaa International Airport, damaged the Yemenia Airways fleet, and rejected all initiatives aimed at restoring regular air services.
