Arab nations and Islamic institutions united in support of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after Yemen’s Houthi movement accused Riyadh of blockading Yemenis and interfering with maritime navigation — then announced what it called a naval embargo against the kingdom. The move has intensified concerns about security in the Red Sea and the safety of global commercial shipping routes.
Among the most direct responses came from Qatar, which flatly rejected the Houthi accusations and declared complete solidarity with Saudi Arabia. Doha expressed support for any steps Riyadh might take to defend its security and sovereignty, adding that Saudi Arabia’s security is fundamentally tied to that of Qatar and the other Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry also broadened the discussion beyond the Houthi allegations, urging the international community to uphold UN Security Council Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722, which pertains to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Qatar emphasized that unobstructed passage through international waterways is a foundational principle of international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The GCC as a whole, along with Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar, labeled the Houthi claims as groundless and reaffirmed their backing of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi stated that the allegations were designed to divert attention from the Houthis’ own role in deepening Yemen’s instability and the broader regional turmoil. He cautioned that threatening shipping and international commerce runs counter to international law and applicable UN resolutions.
The Muslim World League also spoke out against the Houthi statement, characterizing it as an effort to shift blame for Yemen’s ongoing humanitarian disaster. The organization’s secretary-general, Mohammed Al-Issa, pointed to Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure, oil installations, government institutions, and commercial ships — contrasting those actions with Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian aid, development support, and political engagement in Yemen.
These regional statements coincided with reports that the Houthis had warned shipping companies against loading or unloading cargo at Saudi ports, threatening that any vessels doing so could be targeted within the group’s operational range.
