Kingdom Denies Houthi Accusations of Blockading Yemen and Banning Maritime Navigation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strongest condemnation of what the so-called military spokesman of the terrorist Houthi militia mentioned regarding accusing the Kingdom of blockading the brotherly Yemeni people and banning maritime navigation on the Kingdom.

The Ministry said in a statement: "The Kingdom affirms that it has worked over the past years with the legitimate Yemeni government to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people, including continuing development projects, supporting the Yemeni government budget, and providing petroleum derivatives to operate power stations. Ports in northern Yemen (Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Isa) received more than 300 ships carrying various foodstuffs, goods, fuel, and construction materials during the first half of 2026, while continuing to work under UN Security Council Resolution 2216 to prevent the entry of weapons and ammunition that the Houthi militia attempts by all means to bring into Yemen to prolong its control over the resources of the Yemeni people."

The Ministry recalled the previous extensive attacks carried out by the Houthi militia targeting the Yemeni people and infrastructure in Yemen, including the targeting of Aden Airport on 30/12/2020, resulting in the killing and wounding of dozens of martyrs and injured. During the truce, on 21/10/2022, it targeted oil export ports in southern Yemen, followed by attacks to halt the government's ability to sell oil, which constitutes nearly 60% of government revenues, directly affecting the payment of employee salaries. Then it confiscated four aircraft belonging to Yemenia Airways, which the militia detained at Sana'a Airport after transporting Yemeni pilgrims from Jeddah. Subsequently, it dragged Yemen into the regional conflict and targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea, causing increased suffering for the Yemeni people, preventing them from traveling, exacerbating economic problems, especially in areas controlled by the Houthi militia. It rejected all initiatives to resume flights from Sana'a Airport, the latest being the Jordanian initiative, in addition to the ongoing humanitarian violations committed by this militia against Yemeni citizens. It is now trying to export the economic problems and popular rejection it faces due to its crimes and violations by fabricating false accusations and directing them against the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the Kingdom's position aims to achieve peace in Yemen and end the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people. The Kingdom has supported UN efforts to achieve peace in Yemen over the past years, including the roadmap that the Yemeni government agreed to, while the Houthi militia refrained from declaring its acceptance and engaged in a conflict in the region to support its sinister agenda and goals, which doubled the suffering of Yemeni citizens in areas under its control.

The Ministry added in its statement: "The Kingdom calls on the international community to assume its responsibilities regarding the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722 on the rights and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. At the same time, it affirms that it will take all necessary measures to protect its ships in accordance with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the Kingdom continues to support the brotherly Yemeni people and their legitimate government.