Saudi Arabia Seeks Coalition to Protect Red Sea Shipping

Saudi Arabia is seeking to build an international coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, two people familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

The coalition’s composition has not yet been finalized, with Riyadh consulting dozens of countries.

The Iran-backed Houthis announced on 20 July that they would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea in response to what they described as a Saudi siege of Yemen, an allegation Riyadh denies.

Since then, the group has claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi vessels in the area. Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes on what it described as Houthi military facilities at Yemen’s Hodeidah port used to threaten commercial shipping.

The blockade has opened a new front in the wider conflict involving Iran, the United States and its allies, extending attacks on tankers carrying energy and other supplies beyond the Gulf and pushing oil prices higher.

(Reuters, lud)