In Yemen, on July 20, 2026, Ansar Allah's military spokesman declared a full blockade on Saudi Arabia, a direct response to the Saudi blockade on Houthi territory. This escalation followed a series of military exchanges and threats, which were influenced by a perceived shift in the regional balance of power after Iran's recent successes in its conflicts with the United States and Israel. The Houthis, seeking to strengthen their position, welcomed an Iranian commercial flight to Sanaa on July 3, which transported a Houthi delegation to Tehran for the funeral of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Saudi Arabia, concerned about the implications of regular flights between Sanaa and Tehran, retaliated by bombing the runway at Sanaa airport, aiming to limit Ansar Allah's authority and ties with Iran. However, a partial compromise was reached when Jordan announced the resumption of commercial flights between Sanaa and Amman on July 17, a move that was welcomed by both Riyadh and Sanaa. Despite this, the subsequent blockade announcement by Ansar Allah indicated that the compromise did not meet their demands. Both Saudi and Houthi leaders have reasons to avoid further escalation, as the Houthis have refrained from attacking ships in the Red Sea, which is crucial for Saudi oil exports. The ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has made the Red Sea route increasingly important for Riyadh. The U.N. process aimed at resolving the conflict has been largely stalled due to Houthi attacks on shipping and Israel. Under the original U.N. road map, Saudi Arabia had agreed to lift the blockade and pay public-sector salaries, including in Houthi-controlled areas. However, the designation of Ansar Allah complicates Saudi Arabia's ability to implement this plan. Earlier in the year, Saudi Arabia had hoped for a shift in its favor, but ongoing frustrations among separatists in southern Yemen, driven by declining basic services, have hindered the formation of a cohesive anti-Houthi coalition. This coalition aims to pressure Riyadh into implementing the U.N. road map by lifting the blockade and resuming salary payments. Following the recent violence, a U.N.-brokered prisoner exchange of nearly 1,700 detainees was postponed, although both sides claim to remain committed to it.
