Saudi-led coalition to secure Bab-El-Mandeb Strait

The Saudi-led coalition of Arab countries will respond to the threats made by the Yemeni Houthis against their commercial vessels and secure these facilities in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This was announced on July 20 by the official representative of the association, Major General of the Air Force of the Kingdom of Turki Al-Maliki.

"The Joint Command of the coalition forces is taking and implementing all firm and decisive operational measures <...> to protect our commercial vessels passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait," Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper quoted him as saying.

Al-Maliki clarified that all actions will be carried out within the framework of humanitarian law and the United Nations (UN) Convention of 1982. He also referred to the steps taken by the Houthis in this region as piracy, referring to international norms.

The Major General called the accusations against Riyadh of allegedly blocking the water and air harbors of the Houthis untrue and clarified that in 2026 alone, more than 300 commercial vessels entered the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Isa.

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Israel and Iran exchanged blows, and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea was under threat of being blocked.

Yahya Sariah, the military representative of the Yemeni Houthis from the paramilitary rebel group Ansar Allah, announced the introduction of a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia on the same day. The measures, he explained, were allegedly retaliatory for the fact that the kingdom had been blocking their ports and airports for many years, one of which was hit on July 13.