AI Generated Image
Saudi Arabia seeks international coalition against Houthis in Red Sea
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- Saudi Arabia is working to form an international coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, with discussions ongoing among dozens of countries.
- The Houthis declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia on July 20, accusing it of imposing a siege on Yemen, and have since launched attacks on Saudi vessels, prompting Saudi air strikes on Houthi military sites in Yemen.
- Rising tensions in the Red Sea, including the blockade and attacks, are straining the global economy and exacerbating concerns over regional security, especially amid the broader US-Israel conflict with Iran.
- Gulf states, including Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, have urged de-escalation and condemned Iranian-backed militia attacks, emphasizing coordinated action through the Gulf Cooperation Council.
- Yemen’s internationally recognized government accuses the Houthis of acting under Iranian guidance to impose fees on ships passing through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, viewing it as a dangerous move to fund militia activities.
