Exclusive

Houthi top diplomat says no intention to shut down Red Sea shipping, group open to talks

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Acting Foreign Minister of the Houthi-led administration Abdulwahid Abu Ras said concerns over a potential closure of the Red Sea are being fueled by Saudi Arabia.

Adam Lucente

Sep 15, 2026

Add AL-MONITOR on Google

عربي简体中文Español

The Houthis’ top diplomat said Friday that the group has no plans to shut down Red Sea shipping, insisting traffic remains normal despite a decline in vessel movements following the rebels’ recent seizure of the territory around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor via Zoom, Acting Foreign Minister of the Houthi-led administration Abdulwahid Abu Ras said concerns over a potential closure of the Red Sea are unfounded and being fueled by Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis control large swaths of northwestern Yemen and have around 350,000 fighters in their ranks, according to a 2024 United Nations estimate, posing a major challenge to the internationally recognized government and the Saudi-led coalition that supports it.

'Navigation is normal'

Abu Ras dismissed fears that the Red Sea could be closed, accusing Saudi Arabia of stoking those concerns.

“The Saudi regime is trying to scare the world that [the Houthis] will close Bab al-Mandeb and pose a risk to international navigation and the trade flow in the Red Sea," he said. "We have affirmed we have no intention to close Bab al-Mandeb or the Red Sea."

“Navigation is normal," he added. 

However, maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait has fallen following the Houthis’ recent military advances on Yemen's Red Sea coast. A total of 21........

© Al Monitor