The Houthi movement in Yemen said it forced ships to reverse course in the Red Sea and warned Saudi-linked vessels, according to the group's own statement. The claim follows an earlier report by the Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency that six ships had turned back.
The Houthi movement in Yemen issued a formal statement Tuesday evening claiming responsibility for forcing ships to reverse course in the Red Sea and threatening vessels linked to Saudi Arabia. The statement marks the first official claim from the group itself, following earlier reports from Houthi-affiliated sources and maritime tracking data. The Zioneer reported at 17:33 Jerusalem on Tuesday that the Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency had claimed six ships turned back; the group's own statement tonight confirms and extends that claim.
The thread of reports began Monday evening, July 20, at 20:32 Jerusalem, when The Zioneer first reported on an audio recording of Houthi orders to Saudi vessels, alongside an analysis claiming a full blockade on Saudi ports. At the same time, Reuters reported that the Houthis had sent email warnings to shipping companies. Also at 20:32 Jerusalem, reports emerged of two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude reversing course in the Red Sea, followed by the identification of four specific tankers, and another Reuters report on two tankers. The Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency then claimed six ships had turned back, all published at 20:32 Jerusalem Monday. The Zioneer reported on the Saba claim at 17:33 Jerusalem Tuesday. The official statement tonight follows and confirms the pattern.
The Houthi maritime campaign has been documented by The Zioneer over recent weeks. On July 16, the Houthis announced readiness to strike vessels near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, as reported by Reuters. On July 15, an unverified report indicated pro-Saudi Yemeni forces moving toward Houthi territory. On July 20, the Yemeni National Resistance Navy said it thwarted a Houthi boat approach. The disputed Red Sea area has seen several incidents, including an unverified drone boat strike on June 16 and a UKMTO report of a suspected Houthi attack on July 1. The broader context includes the Houthi blockade aimed at disrupting Saudi oil exports and the Neom project, as per earlier analysis.
The Houthi official statement does not specify the number of ships involved or provide details on the vessels. The threat to Saudi-linked vessels is new but remains unverified. Independent confirmation of the claims is lacking. The extent of the actual disruption to Red Sea shipping and the response from Saudi Arabia and coalition partners remain unclear.
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