by Murad Abdo
SANAA, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The declaration by Yemen's Houthi group of a maritime ban on Saudi shipping on Monday has raised fresh concerns over the security of the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest trade corridors.
The move followed a sharp escalation triggered last week by a dispute over Sanaa International Airport. Yemen's internationally recognized government struck the airport's runway to prevent an Iranian aircraft carrying a senior Houthi delegation, which was returning from funeral ceremonies for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, from landing. The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia and launched missiles and drones toward the kingdom, warning that key Saudi oil facilities could become targets.
Although the practical impact of the maritime ban remains uncertain, it has reignited questions over Red Sea shipping security, Saudi energy exports, and whether the latest crisis could test the fragile rapprochement between Riyadh and Tehran.
RED SEA SHIPPING IN FOCUS
Whether the Houthis can enforce the declaration remains uncertain, but experts told Xinhua on Monday that the announcement has renewed attention on the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea export routes.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in the East-West Pipeline, which carries crude oil from its eastern fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
"If the Red Sea itself becomes an arena of sustained confrontation, the strategic value of that alternative route will inevitably decline," said Khalil Alomary, chairman of the Yemeni European Forum.
"The issue extends beyond Saudi Arabia's oil exports. It concerns who can influence the security of one of the world's most important maritime corridors," Alomary said, warning that prolonged instability could increase shipping costs and disrupt global supply chains.
Offering a contrasting view, Hussain al-Bukhaiti, a Sanaa-based political analyst, said the Houthis view the measure as part of a tit-for-tat strategy.
"Saudi Arabia should not continue enjoying the commercial benefits of exporting through the Red Sea while restrictions remain in place on areas under Houthi control," al-Bukhaiti said.
He rejected the notion that the decision was driven by Tehran, saying it stemmed from the Houthis' own conflict with Saudi Arabia.
TEST FOR SAUDI-IRAN DETENTE
Beyond maritime security, experts said the declaration could become another test of the diplomatic thaw between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which restored relations in 2023 through Chinese mediation.
Abdullah Daubalah, a Yemeni political analyst, argued that the timing cannot be separated from the broader U.S.-Iran confrontation.
"Applying pressure on Saudi energy exports also increases pressure on global energy markets at a time when Iran itself faces mounting economic and military challenges," Daubalah said.
He disputed the Houthis' assertion that the declaration was primarily linked to Yemen's humanitarian situation, arguing that broader geopolitical calculations were driving the escalation.
Alomary likewise said renewed attacks on Saudi interests could complicate the Saudi-Iran rapprochement.
"The restoration of diplomatic relations ... largely eased tensions across the region," he said. "But any sustained escalation against Saudi interests would place those understandings under significant strain."
NO ALL-OUT WAR, BUT RISKS RISE
Despite the confrontational rhetoric, experts said neither side appears to be seeking an all-out war, though the margin for miscalculation is narrowing.
"Saudi Arabia has considerably more to lose from a broader conflict than the Houthis," said Aden-based political analyst Muqbil Naji.
"Riyadh's response over the past week suggests it remains focused on containing the crisis rather than expanding it. Even after missile attacks on its territory, it has shown restraint and continued to leave the door open for political solutions," he said.
Naji said the Houthis appear intent on steadily raising the cost of confrontation without triggering a full-scale war.
"The immediate objective is to strengthen leverage rather than seek a decisive military outcome," he said. "Whether that balance holds will determine if the current crisis remains a limited confrontation or develops into a broader regional security challenge." ■
