Saudi Arabia Tells UN: Houthi ‘Blockade’ Claims Are False, Ship Attacks Amount to Piracy

Saudi Arabia Rejects Houthi ‘Blockade’ Claims, Calls Red Sea Ship Attacks ‘Piracy’ at UN

Saudi Arabia has dismissed the Houthi militia’s claims of a blockade on Yemeni ports and airports, calling them “misleading” and “false”, while accusing the group of carrying out acts that amount to maritime piracy in the Red Sea.

Addressing a UN Security Council session on the peaceful settlement of disputes on Thursday, Faisal Meshari T. Almadi, head of the Security Council and Political Affairs Division at Saudi Arabia’s UN mission, urged the international community to enforce existing UN resolutions on Yemen and protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

‘Campaign of Misinformation’

Almadi rejected the Houthis’ claims that Yemeni ports and airports are under blockade, describing them as part of a misinformation campaign.

He said more than 300 commercial vessels carrying food, fuel, construction materials and other essential supplies had entered the ports of Hodeidah, Saleef and Ras Isa during the first half of the year, contradicting the group’s allegations.

He also said the Houthis had repeatedly rejected proposals to resume commercial flights from Sanaa International Airport, including a recent initiative put forward by Jordan.

According to Saudi Arabia, the airport’s closure and the destruction of a Yemenia aircraft were consequences of Houthi actions rather than any coalition-imposed blockade.

Calls for Enforcement of UN Resolutions

Saudi Arabia urged the UN and the international community to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722, which calls for protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

Almadi said the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen had authorised operational measures, in line with international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to safeguard commercial shipping passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

‘Ship Attacks Amount to Maritime Piracy’

The Saudi envoy accused the Houthis of violating international law by targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

He warned that continued attacks on merchant ships threaten regional stability, disrupt global trade and undermine the principle of freedom of navigation.

Describing the assaults as acts of maritime piracy, Almadi called on the international community to condemn the attacks and take stronger steps to prevent further incidents.

Push for Peace in Yemen

Reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s position on the Yemen conflict, Almadi said the Kingdom continues to support UN-led peace efforts and remains committed to achieving a political solution.

He accused the Houthis of rejecting the UN-backed roadmap accepted by Yemen’s internationally recognised government and of becoming increasingly involved in wider regional conflicts, worsening the humanitarian situation inside Yemen.

Saudi Arabia, he said, would continue working with the United Nations and international partners to promote peace, security and stability in the Middle East while supporting efforts to end the conflict in Yemen.