The Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency reports that six ships sailing in the Red Sea reversed course after a Houthi warning, as part of a blockade on Saudi seaports. The claim is unverified and comes from a single Houthi-aligned source.
The Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency reported Tuesday evening that six commercial vessels sailing in the Red Sea turned back after receiving a warning from the Houthi movement, which has declared a naval blockade on Saudi seaports. The claim, if confirmed, would mark a tangible effect of the Houthi blockade strategy, but it stands on a single source — the Houthi-controlled Saba agency — and has not been independently verified.
As The Zioneer has previously reported, the Houthis have repeatedly declared a naval blockade on Israeli and Saudi shipping, most recently on June 8 when their military spokesperson announced a complete ban on Israeli Red Sea shipping and claimed missile strikes on Jaffa. The group has also attacked vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb strait and warned airlines against flying over Saudi airspace. However, the extent to which these declarations translate into actual deterrence of shipping remains unclear.
No independent confirmation of the reported ship turn-backs has been provided by maritime security sources or international naval forces operating in the region.
Source and signal
- Internal intake