Kuwait condemns Houthi claims against Saudi Arabia and their threats to navigation
In response to claims made by the Iran-aligned Houthi group “Ansar Allah” against Saudi Arabia, and its threats to navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab strait, Kuwait expressed its strong condemnation and rejection today of the baseless allegations issued by the Houthi militia’s military spokesperson against Saudi Arabia, as well as the threats contained therein targeting the freedom and security of maritime navigation.
Kuwait reaffirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to safeguard the kingdom’s security and sovereignty, considering the security of the Kingdom an integral part of the security of Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
In a strong show of support for the Kingdom, US President Donald Trump stated during his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that he would “take care of” the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels if they carried out their threat to impose a blockade on Saudi ports. He added, “If this happens, we will take care of it. You know we have done so with the Houthis before, and we haven’t heard anything from them for a while,” in reference to the strikes Washington launched against them prior to reaching an Omani-brokered agreement in May 2025.
As Gulf, Arab, and Islamic condemnations of the Houthi claims continued, particularly from Qatar, Jordan, the Yemeni government, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Saudi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned what it described as the false accusations by the so-called military spokesperson of the terrorist Houthi militia, which alleged that Saudi Arabia was besieging the Yemeni people and blocking maritime navigation.
The ministry emphasized in a statement that “Saudi Arabia has worked over the past years with the legitimate Yemeni government to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people, including by continuing to implement development projects, supporting the Yemeni government’s budget, and providing petroleum derivatives to power electricity stations.”
It further noted that “ports in northern Yemen (Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Isa) received more than 300 ships carrying various food items, goods, fuel, and construction materials during the first half of 2026, while continuing to operate under UN Security Council Resolution 2216 to prevent the entry of weapons and ammunition that the Houtries are attempting to smuggle into Yemen by all means to prolong their control over the Yemeni people’s resources.”
The statement reviewed the extensive attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against the Yemeni people and infrastructure in Yemen over the years, noting that the Houthis’ practices have exacerbated the suffering of the Yemeni people, prevented them from traveling, and worsened economic problems, particularly in areas under their control. It pointed out that the militia had rejected all initiatives to resume flights from Sana’a airport, the latest being the Jordanian initiative.
The Foreign Ministry highlighted that the militia is now attempting to export the economic problems and popular rejection it faces due to its crimes and violations by fabricating false accusations and directing them at Saudi Arabia, whose position aims to bring peace to Yemen and end the suffering of its people.
The statement also addressed Saudi Arabia’s support for UN efforts to achieve peace in Yemen over the past years, and stressed that Saudi Arabia would take all necessary measures to protect its ships in accordance with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, while reiterating its continued support for the Yemeni people and its legitimate government.
GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Bedawi also expressed his strongest condemnation and rejection of the statements issued by the military spokesperson of the Houthi militias, which contained baseless claims against Saudi Arabia.
For his part, the Alliance for Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen affirmed that it would take and implement all firm and stringent operational measures to protect its maritime vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The spokesperson for the Alliance for Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, confirmed that the Joint Forces Command has begun implementing protection measures for the Alliance’s vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait. He stated that any Houthi threats against passing ships would be met with firmness and force, as such actions constitute a blatant violation of international law and fall under the category of piracy.
On his part, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi announced during a meeting with the Consultation and Reconciliation Council today that “Yemen will no longer allow” the Houthi group to impose decisions on war and peace or drag the country into further escalation. He emphasized the government’s commitment to the peace option based on the restoration of state institutions.
Following the Houthis’ announcement of a navigation ban on Saudi Arabia and their warning to shipping companies against loading or unloading cargo in its ports, Al-Alimi called on Yemenis to rally around the armed forces and military formations to support their constitutional mission of restoring state institutions and “ending the Houthi coup.” He also announced the resumption of oil exports, which had been halted since 2022.
Defense Minister Taher Al-Aqili praised Al-Alimi’s call for Yemenis to unite behind their armed forces, affirming that the army, across all its formations, is at the highest levels of combat readiness to advance in the “liberation battle and end the Houthi coup,” and to continue protecting Yemen’s sovereignty and resources by land, sea, and air. Al-Aqili accused the Houthis of fighting a “proxy” battle on behalf of Iran, and urged residents of areas under their control not to involve their children in this fighting.
