The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in retaliation for a blockade of Yemen and a recent attack on Sanaa International Airport. Yahya Saree, Houthi military spokesperson, said the maritime restrictions on Saudi Arabia would take effect immediately, calling the move a reciprocal measure.

The announcement raises concerns over potential disruptions in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime chokepoint at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The route typically handles around 12 per cent of global trade.

Saudi Arabia has not immediately responded to the announcement.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia leads a coalition against the Houthis and imposed an air and sea blockade on Yemen in 2015. Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen and forced the government into exile.