Houthi diplomat denies Red Sea closure, cites Iran ties amid new gains
Acting foreign minister Abdulwahid Abu Ras said the Houthis have no plan to shut the Red Sea or Bab al-Mandeb, despite recent territorial advances and a dip in ship traffic.
In an interview, Acting Foreign Minister Abdulwahid Abu Ras rejected claims that the Houthis intend to block the Red Sea or the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, accusing Saudi Arabia of spreading alarm. He pointed to recent UN estimates of roughly 350,000 Houthi fighters and their seizure of Mokha and nearby islands, which have given them control of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline. Maritime data indicate a drop from about 50 ships per day to 21 on a recent Monday, while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has also fallen sharply.
Abu Ras noted a “common ground” with Iran against American and Israeli presence but maintained that Yemeni affairs are decided by Yemenis. He denied any targeting of Mecca after a Saudi civil-defense alert and reiterated the group’s openness to negotiations, demanding an end to the Saudi-led siege. The UN Security Council is slated to discuss Yemen amid growing worries over global shipping routes linked to the Suez Canal.
Why it matters
The Houthis’ stance on Red Sea navigation affects global trade and heightens regional security tensions.
How this story developed
- Sep 8 Houthi strikes wound dozens in Saudi cities as coalition vows retaliation
- Sep 11 The Iran-backed Houthis captured the Yemeni side of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Mayyun Island and the Hanish islands, consolidating control over the vital Red Sea corridor.
- Sep 11 Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said the pipeline was targeted by several drones launched from Iraq, causing human injuries and damage.
- Sep 12 Saudi Arabia closed its oil pipeline after drone attacks traced to Iraq.
- Sep 12 Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said navigation in the Red Sea was safe except for Saudi ships.
- Sep 12 Experts noted Iran now influences both the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab chokepoints.
- Sep 13 Houthis announced a drone and missile strike on Saudi Sharurah military base.
- Sep 13 Saudi east‑west oil pipeline shut after a drone strike.
- Sep 13 Houthis allege Saudi forces carried out more than 50 attacks on their targets in a single day.
- Sep 14 Two unnamed sources said that the East-West crude line was hit by a drone strike, halting most of its operations. Repair work, including the main pumping station, is expected to take between three and five weeks. One source indicated the pipeline might run at reduced capacity while fixes are underway. U.S. officials confirmed projectiles struck pumping stations on the line. Satellite images show significant damage at the affected sites.
- Sep 14 In a post on X, the European Commission President condemned the Houthi assault on Saudi and American military sites, calling it an act of aggression. She stressed that the EU will continue cooperating with Gulf partners to ensure secure, free shipping through the Hormuz Strait. The statement also highlighted the broader goal of Middle-East stability, which the EU views as a shared interest. The Houthi group claimed to have launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones, citing retaliation for Saudi air strikes in Yemen. Saudi officials responded by ordering air patrols in several southern regions.
- Sep 14 The displacement figure has risen to nearly 86,000.
- Sep 14 President Donald Trump indicated that Iran wants to negotiate with the United States.
- Sep 15 Houthi forces reported seizing the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands.
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