Houthi leader says 16 ships turned back after Saudi maritime blockade declaration

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The leader of Yemen's Houthi movement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, said on July 20 that his forces had turned back 16 ships after Saudi Arabia declared what he described as a "maritime navigation ban" against his country. In a televised address, al-Houthi said the indicators showed the Saudi side was preparing for a broad escalation and pledged to respond with full escalation in kind. Saudi Arabia has rejected the Houthi claims of a blockade, describing any prohibition on maritime navigation as a threat to international safety. The Saudi-led coalition has announced measures to protect vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait and to counter Houthi threats. Saudi Arabia also announced the formation of a multinational maritime defense alliance with 13 countries, saying the coalition would be defensive in nature and under Riyadh's command. Riyad accuses the Houthis of being backed by Iran. Yemen had experienced a relatively calm period before renewed escalation broke out across multiple fronts from early July, with fighting reported as the most intense since 2022.