On July 20, the military spokesman of Yemen's Houthis announced in a televised address the start of a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, effective immediately, Reuters reported.
The armed group declared "a naval embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the principle of an eye for an eye, which comes into effect immediately after this announcement."
The Houthis said the blockade is a response to Saudi Arabia's "unjust and oppressive siege" against the Yemeni people for nearly 12 years, during which "our resources have been looted and a comprehensive blockade has been imposed on our ports and airports by land, sea, and air."
Last week, the Houthis launched missiles at Saudi Arabia, accusing the kingdom of bombing Sanaa airport under their control. This violated the four-year ceasefire achieved after the conflict between the kingdom and the movement.
Yemen has been mired in civil war for over a decade. The Iran-backed Houthis have captured the capital and forced the internationally recognized government to relocate to the south. The government, operating from the southern port of Aden, enjoys the support of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
