SAUDI ARABIA PERSPECTIVE

Riyadh, July 21, 2026. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly rejected on Monday the accusations made by the Houthi militia, which accuses the Kingdom of imposing a blockade on the Yemeni people and restricting maritime navigation. In a statement, the Saudi diplomacy reaffirmed its support for the legitimate Yemeni government and promised to "take all necessary measures" to protect its ships, in accordance with international law.

The ministry recalled that over 300 commercial vessels carrying food, fuel, and construction materials entered Yemeni ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif, and Ras Issa during the first half of 2026, and that control measures aim solely to prevent arms smuggling, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2216. Riyadh listed a series of Houthi attacks on Yemen and the region: the 2020 assault on Aden Airport, the 2022 strikes on oil terminals in southern Yemen, the seizure of four Yemenia aircraft at Sanaa Airport, and repeated attacks on commercial traffic in the Red Sea. According to the ministry, the Houthis are trying to divert attention from their internal economic difficulties and popular discontent by making false accusations against the Kingdom.

This new front opens as the war between the US and Tehran enters its ninth consecutive night of American strikes, with a third American soldier killed in as many days. President Trump warned that Iran would "pay many times over" for each American death. Kuwait and Bahrain also reported Iranian strikes: Manama denounced the targeting of its air navigation systems as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty, while Kuwait condemned an attack on a desalination plant. The Saudi Crown Prince discussed regional developments with the Lebanese President. The Brent barrel exceeded $90 before stabilizing around $88, with traffic in the Strait of Hormuz reduced to just a few ships.